By ‘Pegs’
KILMORE trainer Hanna Powell and her husband, former Fitzroy (VFL) footballer, Ian Powell, didn’t have to wait long for a return on their new acquisition, Matao Ma ($3.30-$3) at bet365 Park Kilmore last Thursday.
The Powells purchased the four-year-old gelded son of Brazen Beau and Fortune’s Choice online late last year for $19,000 after the previous training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr sacked the gelding after a $1.40 beaten favourite at Hamilton in September.
Taken to the lead from an outside barrier, the gelding was beautifully rated by the Group 1-winning hoop, Dean Holland, and held on for an impressive win in the $27,000 bet365 Top Tote Plus Maiden Plate over 1112 metres.
The gelding defeated the debutant Kessler ($21) by a length with River Frost ($5.50) a further four lengths away third.
Matao Ma’s win was a pick-me-up for the trainer who hasn’t enjoyed the best of good health of late having been hospitalised for eight days recently.
“I could not have got this far without ‘Chappy’ (longtime stable assistant Robert Chapman) and track rider Tyson Barton – they have been absolute fantastic,” Hanna said.
Powell said depending on his rating, the gelding will have his next start back at Kilmore in a ‘58’ on May 11.
The New Zealand-bred Matao Ma, who cost $220,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale had seven minor placings prior to his win from 11 starts.
Impressive winner
Another impressive winner on the Kilmore’s eight-race card was the Vincent Nolan owned and trained Prooinga ($3.10) in the Grays Bendigo BM58 Handicap over 1612 metres.
The Seymour-trained Wandjina five-year-old gelding dawdled out of the stalls, missing the start by three lengths.
Rider Jake Duffy didn’t panic and railed up getting a beautiful passage on the turn and came away to win by three lengths.
The gelding has been a model of consistency winning two races with five minor placings from his 12 starts.
All clear for Seymour
The Seymour surface was given the tick of approval by all after its eight-race program last Friday.
The meeting was the first since November 11 last year after a long break and then had to contend with grass contamination due to flooding.
Favourite punters got off to a good start with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained stablemates, Count Nicholas ($1.50) and Punch Line ($2.20) taking out the first two races respectively. Both were ridden by the in-form Ben Allen.
Former Seymour apprentice Tahlia Hope, aboard the Dan McCarthy-trained Ferlaxing ($5), got up in a blanket finish to eclipse her father Shannon and Pa Lee-trained Syrup ($10) in the Yarran Thoroughbreds BM58 Handicap over 1400 metres.
The next Seymour meeting is on Thursday, April 27.
