Group 1 Aim For Progressive Son Of Maxios
A quick return and first tilt at Group 1 level is being considered for Master Of Wine (5g Maxios – Magma, by Dubai Destination) after his impressive success in Saturday’s Group 3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
The British import brought his winning streak to four when justifying favouritism in the ten furlong contest worth $350,000. The winning distance was three and a half lengths from last year’s Ebor Handicap winner Mustajeer in second, with Carif (So You Think) a neck behind him in third.
Tommy Berry, who partnered the winner, commented after the race, “He makes it easy because he has nice tactical speed if you want to use it. He’s a very good horse and it’s just a pleasure to be back on him. We really need an Australian weight-for-age star to step up and say I’m the best going around, he’s won his last four now and while he is still far from the top, he’s slowly getting there.”
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes echoed Berry’s enthusiasm, saying, “He is pretty special. He’s turning into a very serious horse.”
Now trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes for a partnership including R&C Legh Racing and B&C Thoroughbreds, Master of Wine was purchased privately from the stable of Andrew Balding. Bred by Gestut Gorlsdorf, he comes from the first crop of Maxios, who begins his career as a NH stallion at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud.
Maxios has another potentially exciting horse to look forward to in the Christophe Ferland-trained Euclidia (3f Maxios – Mathematicienne, by Galileo), who made an impressive debut at Toulouse on Saturday evening.
The Wertheimer brothers’ homebred boasted a promising pedigree as a half-sister to three Stakes horses, including Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Matematica (Rock Of Gibraltar). She made her debut in the Prix d’Essai over ten and a half furlongs, in which Maxime Guyon rode her to chase the leaders. Travelling well as she took the lead turning for home, she was pushed out in the straight to win by four lengths.
Saturday continued a successful week for Maxios, following his first Cheltenham Festival winner at the first attempt when Aramax won the Grade 3 Fred Winter Hurdle.