It was a red-letter day for trainer Tom Dabernig with his first stakes-winner since going solo, Flying Mascot, who put a space on them in Saturday’s Group III Tesio Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Chasing air behind Flying Mascot in Tesio Stakes | Image courtesy of Pat Scala/Racing Photos
With Blaike McDougall in the saddle, the 4yo daughter of Tavistock defeated Starelle (More Than Ready) by four and a quarter lengths with Annavisto (Reliable Man) a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.
It was the first stakes success for Flying Mascot, advancing her record to four wins, a second and two thirds from nine starts with earnings of $222,475.
“That was very special, Dabernig said.
“It is the first Group III for the new stable, and I was thrilled for Flying Start Syndications.
“She’s a mare that as a three-year-old was a bit delicate. As a four-year-old mare now she’s really seasoned up very well.
“Blaike McDougall, he’s ridden a lot of winners for me, but a lot of Victorians haven’t probably heard a lot about him. I think they will. He’s a very good rider.
“She had only had one run on a soft track before this. That was at her first ever race start. But I was happy being Race 10 of the Cox Plate weekend when we drew wide. I thought the fence might give out, and we ended up in a good spot.
Flying Mascot and Blaike McDougall | Image courtesy of Reg Ryan/Racing Photos
“It was a little bit tense turning for home from a long way out, but when she got clear she really burst through. With a Group III win for a Tavistock mare, she’s very valuable.
“We’ll just see how she pulls up. She’s in great form. Obviously, there’s the Group 1 mile next Saturday, but it is a week back-up. She’d have to do particularly well to do that. There are plenty of options. I think at the Sandown Cup meeting at Caulfield, there’s a 1600 metre mares race there too to consider.”
Purchased by Flying Start Syndications/Pinhook B/S (FBBA) for $25,000, from the draft of Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Flying Mascot is bred on the highly successful Tavistock – Zabeel cross.
A half-sister to stakes-winner Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel), Flying Mascot is one of seven winners from eight to race out of the Zabeel mare Lucky Mascot.
A sister to stakes-placed Maythehorsebemagic and to the dam of the champion Xtravagant, Lucky Mascot is a daughter of the multiple Group II winner Arletty (Centaine), a three-quarter sister to Sixty Seconds and Spottswoode.
Lucky Mascot died in April last year. Her final foal is a 2yo brother to Flying Mascot named Lucky Stock, who is in the stable of John O’Shea and will carry the colours of his breeder Ron Finemore.
Flying Mascot becomes the 33rd stakes-winner for Cambridge Stud’s deceased Tavistock.