Mastercraftsman filly Mime wins Sir Tristram Classic

Consistent filly Mime (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) produced a gutsy performance to win the seventh leg of the NZB Filly of The Year Series, the Group 2 $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Mime (NZ) capturing the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic.  Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman trained filly went into the Group 2 fillies feature, with two wins and five seconds from eight starts, the only unplaced finish was sixth in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

Ridden for the first time by Michael Coleman, the pair were unable to get across from their wide barrier draw and Coleman was happy to settle close to the lead, albeit three wide throughout.

Leading the field at a ordinary pace Preetha Varma (NZ) (Keeper), and along with Fame Seeker (NZ) (Showcasing), turning for home. Mime showed tremendous courage to lead with 100 metres to run and hold onto win by a length from Promise To Reign (Manhattan Rain) running on from the rear to finish second, with favourite Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), a head back in third.

“She’s been running against the older horses in Rating 75 grades. She hasn’t raced against her own age-group many times. I saw her as a leading chance going into the race. We may have been trapped wide, but the race worked out for us. The pace was slow, and the inside was off but it was still a gutsy effort. She was strong to the line,” jockey Michael Coleman said.

Mime became the seventh different winner of the 10-race Filly of the Year Series, and earned her eight points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, her first points in the series, taking her to fourth equal place on the table. There are three legs remaining, finishing with the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on 19 March.

The victory was Mime’s third and along with five seconds from nine starts has earned $108,525 in stakes for her owner Laurence Redshaw.

Mime is out of Redshaw’s mare Maidjeu (NZ), is by another former Coolmore stallion, Montjeu, that shuttled to Windsor Park. Maidjeu, has had five foals to race, including King Zeus (Thorn Park), a winner of six races, and Karrdo (Volksraad) second in the Listed Matamata Slipper at his first start.

Second dam The Maid is a half-sister to prolific stakes performer Waikiki, twice winner of the Group 2 Te Aroha Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.