Something about Mary at Mornington

Mary Eliza, a daughter of one of New Zealand’s top staying mares has broken her maiden at Mornington, with the progeny of three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval taking out the 1500m contest by 1.5 lengths.

The switch from Caulfield Heath to Mornington didn’t worry the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman trained three-year-old, with jockey Zac Spain able to extricate off the fence aboard the $3.50 chance and run on strongly late to beat Rip ‘N’ Rip, with Mcadam a further 3/4 lengths away in third.

By Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Super Seth, Mary Eliza’s dam won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), and co-trainer Katherine Coleman believes the filly will continue to improve with more ground.

“She’s always sort of shaped up as a filly that would probably get over a little bit more ground. She’s taken a little while to sort of mature and get to the races, but fantastic ownership group, obviously on the Chittick family and Gary, especially- they’ve just allowed us to take our time here, so really pleased to get a win for them today,” Coleman said.

“She’s done a good job there; she sort of gave away experience to a lot of these horses in the field today and a small field as well, which can make it a little bit tricky. But I was really pleased with the way that she stretched out there late.”

While no immediate plans have been made, jockey Zac Spain was complimentary of Mary Eliza’s win, having also ridden her to a third placing on debut over 1300m at Seymour.

“She’s still a little bit raw, when I first asked her she didn’t really know how to let down and took probably three or four strides then she really started to hit her top and she won pretty easy at the end,” Spain said.