Darley Australia has started its Brisbane winter carnival in perfect style with victory by quality mare Mascareri in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast.
Mascareri was one of three horses Darley trainer Peter Snowden sent north last week and the Commands mare was the first runner for the leviathan stable this carnival.
Paul Snowden, deputising for his father Peter, said Mascareri had been set for the $150,000 feature race last month.
“This was the target race for her and it’s great to see her get the job done,” Snowden said.
“She has done really well in the sunshine in Queensland and she hates the cold at home.
“She handles the (wet) surface but we were concerned about getting caught up on the fence and she did a good job to win.”
Jockey Damien Browne took his record to three wins from four rides for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley team when he lifted Mascareri ($5) to a neck win.
Just Been Lucky ($26) rattled home late and looked a chance of giving Patinack Farm its fourth winner for the day but she tired on her run to finish second.
Local mare Beethog ($21) travelled outside the leader and she battled bravely in the straight to finish a long neck back third with Moss River ($12) fourth.
Favourite backers were wondering what happened after the heavily supported Alltherightmoves struggled into 10th, nine lengths from the winner.
Alltherightmoves was backed from $6 on Thursday into $2.40 favourite but she failed to fire a shot on the heavy surface.
Trainer Les Kelly said her rider Brad Stewart reported the mare copped a buffeting throughout and wasn’t at home on the track.
Browne said Mascareri travelled sweetly throughout and dug deep when he asked her to sprint in the straight.
“She was always travelling like the winner and when I asked her for a length at the 250 metres she found for me,” he said.
“She was getting a bit tired near the line and it was a good win. She will improve with that run under her belt.
Snowden said Mascareri would start next in the Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben on May 19.
