There's a sad footnote to the explosive victory of Mama's Choice in Saturday's Listed Emirates Chairman's Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
The dam of Mama's Choice, the Listed Myer Stakes winner, Red Hot Mama, died three weeks previously.
Making her career debut, Mama's Choice (Redoute's Choice x Red Hot Mama (General Nediym)) came from well back in the field under Dwayne Dunn to overpower Formidable (Strada) and race favourite Jimando (Commands).
Trainer David Hayes said the filly will make her next start in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes in three weeks time.
Hayes and Dunn combined to take three consecutive runnings of the Blue Diamond with Nadeem (2006), Sleek Chassis (2007) and Reaan (2008)
"Coming from last was always going to be a bit of a task but she was impressive," Hayes said. "She joined in very quickly, put it all over, then switched off a little bit.
"I liked the turn of foot from the 400 to the 200 (metres)."
A homebred for Jonathon Munz's Pincliffe Racing, Mama's Choice is the
second foal of the ill-fated Listed stakes winner Red Hot Mama, a half-sister
to VRC Oaks (G1) and Arrowfield Stud Stakes (G1) heroine Hollow Bullet.
Her first foal, the million dollar colt, Red Hot Choice, a full-brother to Mama's Choice, showed ability in an injury shortened career of 8 starts, placing in the Aquanita Stakes and WA St Leger before earning a spot on the Mungrup stud roster last year.
Red Hot Mama has a yearling colt by Redoute's Choice and a colt foal by
High Chaparral (IRE). She was bred back to that stallion before her death on January
7.
Mama's Choice becomes the 81st stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud's champion stallion Redoute's Choice who is locked in an enthralling battle with Fastnet Rock for champion sire honours this season.
