Breeding & Racing Magazine

Marasco Wins Strickland Stakes

Ill-fated former Durham Lodge stallion Scenic (Sadler's Wells-Idyllic, by Foolish Pleasure) added a group success when favoured 6YO gelding Marasco (Scenic-Bluegrass Belle, by Is It True) scored a 0.75-length victory in the $125,000 weight-for-age Gr3 Strickland Stakes (1800m) at Ascot. Marasco (ridden by Daniel Staeck for trainer Fred Kersley) defeated fellow 6YO gelding Tarzi (Desert Prince-Majestic, by Twig Moss) & 4YO mare Star Encounter (Jeune-Lady Ashford, by Royal Academy). Marasco (bred by Oakland Park Stud & retained to race by the Kersley & Duncan families) now has 14 wins (also including 2008's Gr2 Lee Steere Stakes over 1400m at Ascot, Gr3 Belmont Sprint over 1400m at Belmont Park, Gr3 Hyperion Stakes over 1400m at Ascot & Listed H.G.Bolton Sprint over 1200m at Belmont, plus 2007's Gr2 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m at Flemington, Listed Belmont Newmarket over 1200m at Belmont & Listed Australia Day Stakes over 1200m at Ascot, as well as 2006's Gr3 A.J.Scahill Stakes over 1400m & Gr2 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m at Ascot) & 8 placings (including last start's Gr3 Hyperion Stakes over 1400m at Ascot on March 21, plus 2008's Gr2 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m at Ascot, as well as 2007's Gr1 Darley Australian Cup over 2000m at Caulfield, Gr1 Orr Stakes over 1400m, Gr1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield, Gr2 Liston Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield & Gr2 St George Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield) from 32 starts for $1,545,350 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)