Machine Gun Gracie, who claimed the WA Oaks–WA Derby double during the previous campaign, returned to peak condition with a dominant display in the Group 3 $250,000 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
The mare, now under the care of the Lindsay Park team led by brothers JD, Ben and Will Hayes, secured her initial triumph since that Perth classics sweep almost a year prior – hinting at further major successes ahead.
“She’s got plenty of X-Factor,” Jd Hayes said.
“We’ll have a good chat and debrief with the team and the connections here, have a few cold ones and enjoy today. Then work out where we’re going, because I think a mare of her calibre, we will have plenty of options.”
Dispatched at $17 odds, Machine Gun Gracie offered no opportunities to her competitors as she powered away to claim the Epona Stakes by two lengths over Polymnia ($5.50), while Placid Pearl ($101) filled third spot closely.
The Godolphin mare Pinito started as the $2.60 market elect but, having taken the widest path around the bend, weakened to a lacklustre ninth position. This marked just the second outing for Machine Gun Gracie with the Hayes operation following her time under Perth mentor Justine Erkelens.
Erkelens maintains an ownership interest in the mare and attended the track for her commanding Epona Stakes success.
“They saw our facilities (Lindsay Park) and thought it would really suit ‘Gracie’, so we’re just very lucky in that regard that she got sent our way,” Hayes said,”She’s gone from strength to strength and she’s got plenty of upside. We’ve always had a high opinion of her and it’s good to see her convert here today.”
Rider Luke Currie positioned Machine Gun Gracie ideally during the contest, allowing the mare to seal victory with a devastating closing burst.
“In Perth she raced on speed and was really strong but last time she was a bit sticky out first-up and I just rode her quietly from there,” Currie said.
“But she had the barrier extension on today because she’s so big she doesn’t fit in the gates so well. She gets very uncomfortable and I thought that’s what happened last time.
“She still didn’t begin the fastest, so I had to just give her a little nudge, but she got there and switched straight off and pricked her ears. She always travelled nice and kind, off a nice tempo, and was always going to be hard to beat.”
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