Breeding & Racing Magazine

Scarborough's Aust-Bound Mare Wins US Gr2

Meanwhile Victorian breeder Bob Scarborough's 5YO mare Mauralakana (Muhtathir-Jimkana, by Double Bed) "unleashed an explosive bid on the turn & steam-rolled past foes" to score a runaway 3-lengths victory in the weekend's US$150,000 Gr2 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (11 furlongs on turf) for fillies & mares at Belmont Park in New York, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. French-bred favourite Mauralakana (ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Christophe Clement) defeated front-running Herboriste (Hernando-Helvellyn, by Gone West) & Hostess (Chester House-Charge D'affaires, by Vice Regent), with Desmoreaux declaring: "That was a scintillating turn of foot. Chris (Clement) had her breathing fire today!" And Clement noted: "She was bought as a broodmare prospect for Australia. The plan is for her to be covered by September 1 & then go to Australia." Clement revealed tentative plans include the US$750,000 Gr1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park in Chicago on August 9, adding: "Of course, things could change." Mauralakana (a US$900,000 purchase by Grant Pritchard Gordon's Badgers Bloodstock on behalf of Scarborough at the 2007 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale) is a half-sister stakes-winner Petit Calva & her dam Jimkana is a full-sister to Gr1 Dubai Duty Free winner Jim And Tonic. At her previous 3 starts, Mauralakana won March's Gr3 The Very One Handicap (9 furlongs on turf) at Gulfstream Park in Florida, then finished runner-up in the Gr3 Orchid Handicap (12 furlongs on turf) at Gulfstream & most recently won the Listed Mairzy Doates Handicap (11 furlongs on turf) at Calder in Miami on April 26. Mauralakana made her initial 9 starts in France (winning the 2005 Gr3 Prix de Cabourg as a 2YO & 2006 Listed Prix Imprudence); transferred to the US, she placed in both 2006's Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge (9 furlongs) at Keeneland & Gr3 Noble Damsel Handicap (8 furlongs) at Blemont Park, before winning 2007's Gr3 Locust Grove Handicap (9 furlongs) at Churchill Downs & placing in the Gr3 Glens Falls Handicap (11 furlongs) at Saratoga. Overall she now has 9 wins & 6 placings from 24 starts for US$863,012 earnings.