Ben Allen celebrates Marabi's Australia Stakes win (Image: Racing Photos)
The blistering mare Marabi announced herself as a future Group 1 winner as early as next month’s Oakleigh Plate after demolishing a quality field of sprinters in Saturday’s $350,000 G2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
The still unbeaten Marabi’s official margin was two and three quarter lengths but she was as far six lengths in front with 100 metres to go when rider Ben Allen throttled down and allowed her to cruise to the line to beat the impressive Irish import Sinawann.
Co-trainer Dave Eustace was suitably impressed by the mare’s display of pure speed..
"I think she proved today at weight-for-age that she is very smart," Eustace said before adding, "She couldn’t have been any more impressive."
Bookmakers agreed, Sportsbet installing her the $2.50 favourite for next month’s Oakleigh Plate (1100m) ahead of Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs ($8.50).
WATCH: Marabi wins the Australia Stakes
Eustace, who trains Marabi with Ciaron Maher, admitted to some dented confidence in the five-year-old mare maintaining her winning streak after Friday night’s rain in Melbourne.
"We were very worried about the track," he said. "She has trained on it quite a lot that style of ground and she hasn’t performed very well on it."
"Credit to her and credit to the team. She’s been up a little while and, yes, she’s had her runs spaced but the team at Cranbourne have done a great job with her and I think she’s proved today at weight-for-age that she’s very smart.
“You don’t think that you’re going to win races of this calibre but that far.
"She’s beaten a decent field albeit a lot of horses kicking off their campaigns. She couldn’t have been any more impressive.
“Credit to Benny, he knows her extremely well. He’s got a lot of confidence in her and he rode her accordingly.”
Marabi got into $1.70 by race time and those who took the short odds have few troubles as she strolled to the line ahead of Sinawann ($8), who impressed with his finishing run from the back with the game Turaath ($9.50) in third place.
Allen, who missed out riding Marabi last start because of her 54kg weight, said he wouldn’t mind if the handicappers gave her a decent ratings penalty for her Australia Stakes win.
"She keeps surprising us every time she steps out," he said.
"She just keeps stepping up to the plate, and hopefully the Oakleigh Plate is next for her.
“Hopefully she creeps up in the points and I can ride her."