It would be fitting if Wendy Kelly’s next feature win came with a product of Maurice and she will be looking to achieve that feat this Saturday at Caulfield.
The Cranbourne trainer will start Mauricio in the $300,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).
Kelly was the original trainer of Hitotsu, a son of Maurice who had his first three starts for Kelly before being transferred to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace after Ozzie Kheir and partners bought a controlling interest from Kevin Payne.
Hitotsu went on to win a Victoria Derby, ATC Australian Derby and Australian Guineas at Group 1 level before injured forced an early retirement.
Mauricio carries the Payne colours that Hitotsu sported before being sold and Kelly is excited to have another good one by Maurice in the stable, especially a model pupil like Mauricio.
“The one thing I know with the Maurices, both her and Hitotsu had beautiful temperaments and are very relaxed horses,” she said.
“She’s just the most darling of a horse. She’s black, she’s beautiful, she’s a good size, she has the most amazing temperament, she loves her carrots and she’s very spoilt.”
A $60,000 online purchase via Inglis in June last year, Mauricio is from the I Am Invincible mare Just Remember This, who is a daughter of Irish mare Dreamalittledream, a daughter of Danehill Dancer.
Mauricio has not missed a place in five starts, breaking her maiden over 1474m at Kyneton two starts ago before a narrow second to Flying Fizz over 1400m at Sandown last time out.
Mauricio will be ridden by Blaike Mcdougall in the Guineas, which will be her first try at 1600m, a distance Kelly thinks she will relish.
“I’m thrilled to bits with her, she’s had a big campaign but she’s coped with it all really well and I’m really looking forward to Saturday because I’m dying to get her out to the mile,” Kelly said.
The Sandown Guineas will be run at the scene of Kelly’s biggest win in racing – Bon Hoffa’s win in Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in 2007.