Maison Louis (NZ) Continues NZB’s Derby Dominance

NZB celebrated a fifth consecutive winner of the Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) when Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth) headlined a Karaka trifecta in the A$1m classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Go Racing’s Maison Louis added his name to the Queensland Derby’s recent roll of honour alongside fellow Karaka graduates Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree), Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park), Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock) and Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder).

Maison Louis was bred by Pencarrow Stud, who offered him in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Prominent syndicators Go Racing bought him for $250,000. His seven-start career has now produced four wins, a second and A$679,750 in stakes.

The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Maison Louis scored his first two victories at Goulburn earlier this year – over 1500 metres on February 28 and over 1600 metres on April 8. He earned himself a Queensland Derby campaign when he added a 1900-metre success at Canterbury on April 21.

The improving three-year-old then headed to Brisbane and finished an eye-catching fourth in last month’s Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2000m), running some of the fastest late sectionals in the renowned Derby lead-up.

Maison Louis was ridden by Ryan Maloney in Saturday’s Derby and raced in fifth along the rail as Rough Habit winner Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill) set only a moderate pace out in front. More speed went into the race when Belle Detelle (Zed), who was caught wide, pressed forward to take over near the end of the back straight.

Maloney bided his time, holding his place as the field bunched up coming up to the home turn. When he spotted an opening just on the outside of Imperialist in the straight, he switched Maison Louis across heels and pushed the button.

Maison Louis lengthened stride as five horses fanned across the track to fight it out through the last 100 metres. Maison Louis quickened the best and kicked away in the final few strides, winning by a length from his stablemate King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci).

“Look, he's just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth,” O’Shea said. “He's one of the few horses that we have for Go Racing, who do a wonderful job.

“He's just a tough, resilient little horse, and he's come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby, so we're very excited.

“He came off Pencarrow Stud in New Zealand. We always rush to New Zealand each year to participate in their sales, and we've been well-rewarded, because the second horse comes out of one of their sales as well.”

The Derby was Maloney’s first ride on Maison Louis.

“Unbelievable,” the jockey said. “He’s a beautiful ride. He conserves his energy so well.

“It was a very dawdling-run Derby, and when Belle Detelle made a move at the half-mile, that increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot. We were sort of on the fence, and with everyone wanting to get out to that better ground, I knew that would give me options when I wanted to stake my claim.

“When he got the gap on the outside of the Waller horse (Imperialist), he pinned his ears back and was just as tough as nails.”

Maison Louis joins last season’s champion two-year-old Velocious (Written Tycoon) as Go Racing’s second Group One winner sourced from Karaka 2023 – from only 11 purchases.

Saturday’s runner-up King Of Thunder was a $50,000 purchase by John O’Shea Racing from the 2023 Ready to Run Sale. He has earned A$478,425 from a 12-start career that has produced two wins and six placings.

The third placegetter was the filly Chase Your Dreams (NZ) (Contributer), who was bought for $40,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. She has had 10 starts for three wins, five placings and A$200,435.

Incredibly, Maison Louis is the fourth individual Group One winner for Waikato Stud’s emerging superstar Super Seth. He joins Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce (NZ), Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker (NZ) and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) heroine La Dorada (NZ).

Two of those Group One stars were bred and sold by Pencarrow – Feroce and Maison Louis.

“What a great result,” Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela said on Saturday. “I am delighted for the industry and especially pleased for all the team at Pencarrow and Waikato Stud. What a great prospect Super Seth is.”

Super Seth, whose service fee has increased from $45,000 to $75,000 for the upcoming season, has six well-related progeny catalogued for the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on June 26.

Maison Louis became the third Karaka 2023 graduate to win a Derby in 2025, joining Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) in the New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) in the Australian Derby (2400m).

Vendor	Pencarrow Stud
Purchaser	Go Racing (Auckland)
Breeding	Super Seth – Cote D’Or
Sale	Lot 112, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $250,000
Breeder	Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd
Owner	Mr A J A Bosma, Sir P J Vela, Mr J F Hepburn, Mr G Sheppard, Mr DV Gilliard, Mr DB McGuinness, Mr M Cole, Mr M L Solomon, Clearwater