Marroni (NZ) Prevails in Manawatu Cup Thriller

Two Karaka graduates went to war down the Awapuni straight in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Three Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), and it was Marroni (NZ) (Makfi) who claimed a heart-stopping triumph.

Bought by Baker Racing for $90,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2018, Marroni has almost doubled that purchase price with $173,368 in stakes from a 20-start, six-win career.

Runner-up Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) was a $130,000 purchase by Marsh Racing from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. Her 15 starts have produced two wins, five placings and $139,525 in stakes to date, headed by a valuable Group Three victory in last season’s Wellington Stakes (1600m).

But Saturday was Marroni’s day as the under-rated five-year-old stepped up to the big time to claim his first black-type win.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, Marroni was cruising as he moved up alongside the leaders rounding the home turn and thrust his head in front in the straight.

But Zee Falls was in hot pursuit, and Lisa Allpress angled the mare into clear air and began eating into the margin down Marroni’s outside.

After a desperate battle through the last 150 metres, the pair hit the line locked together, and the judge took several minutes to declare a winner. Victory eventually went to Marroni by the smallest of margins.

“I’ve always had a lot of time for Marroni after I bought him for $90,000 at Karaka in 2018 out of the Westbury Stud draft,” co-trainer Murray Baker told NZ Racing Desk.

“He has just needed a little time to come to it, although he has been wonderfully consistent and also hasn’t had the best of racing luck at times.

“He got decked in a fall at Te Rapa earlier this year and also was badly interfered with at Tauranga four starts ago, so it was nice to see him get a win like he had today.

“He can go out for a spell now, and we will bring him back for something in the autumn. I think he could be the perfect horse to take to Sydney for some of those staying races in the lesser classes.”

A winning double at Awapuni on Saturday also took Baker to a notable milestone of 1800 career victories in New Zealand.

Training in partnership with Andrew Forsman, who has shared in over 800 of those wins, the Hall of Fame horseman is renowned on both sides of the Tasman for his outstanding accomplishments.

Baker has trained the winners of more than 50 Group One races, several of them with Karaka graduates, such as the following examples from the last decade:

• Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor): Bought for $220,000 from the 2013 Ready to Run Sale and earned over $4 million in stakes. Won eight races including the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m), Australian Derby (2400m) and Caulfield Cup (3200m).
• Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj): Bought for $52,500 from the 2013 Ready to Run Sale and earned $1.7 million. Won seven races including the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Emirates Stakes (1600m) and Futurity Stakes (1400m).
• Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi): Bought for $150,000 from the 2015 Premier Sale and earned $1.68 million. Won seven races from only 12 starts, including the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m), Australian Oaks (2400m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m).
• Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj): Bought for $65,000 from the 2015 Select Sale and earned more than $2.1 million. Won the Group One Australian Derby (2400m) and placed in another five Group One races.
• Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes): Bought for $70,000 from the 2016 Ready to Run Sale and earned over $800,000. Won the Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m).
• Madison County (NZ) (Pins): Bought for $36,000 from the 2017 Select Sale and earned more than $1 million. Won the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Levin Classic (1600m), and finished second in the Group One Australian Derby (2400m).
• Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls): Bought for $150,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. Has so far won five races and more than $1.1 million, including the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and $1m Restricted Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).

“Marroni made it 1801 wins in New Zealand, and I’m thrilled with the success we have had here over the years,” Baker said.

“I’m also pretty proud of how we have done in Australia, where we have won over 60 races, but more importantly that includes 48 stakes races with 23 Group Ones.

“All up, I think I’ve won 55 Group One races here and in Aussie, so we’ve had a bit of success alright.”

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Baker Racing
Breeding	Makfi – Bacio Del Vinto
Sale	Lot 727, Karaka 2018 Book 2, $90,000
Bred by	G Harvey