A maiden that had never run in anything less than Group races in five previous starts, Zoustar filly Mumbai Muse justified the faith placed in her by connections when proving too good for the colts in the $200,000 Listed ATC Sir Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Mumbai Muse was fourth and third in the first two legs of the Princess Series at 1200m and then could only finish ninth when stepped up to 1400m for the Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes last month.
Freshened and given a barrier trial which she won, Mumbai Muse was sharp for this assignment and settled perfectly with cover from a good draw for Tommy Berry before accelerating clear to win by more than a length.
Michael Freedman was relieved to see Mumbai Muse return to scale a winner.
“It’s been a long time coming, but she’s been racing in tip top company,” he said.
“It was nice to make a plan and come down a grade and try and knock off a Black Type race with her and she’s a pretty valuable broodmare now.
“I think she can go on with it so we might go down to Melbourne as there are couple of fillies races that would suit.”
Mumbai Muse was a $525,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmroe draft for Michael Freedman Racing / Julian Blaxland Bloodstock and runs for Woppitt Bloodstock and partners that include Robert McClure of Morning Rise Stud, who bred the filly.
She is a half-sister to stakes-winner Jazz Etude and stakes-placed Mumbai Jewel and Splendoronthegrass being the second stakes-winner among four winners from Mumbai Rock, a winning Fastnet Rock daughter of US Group I winner Mani Bhavan (USA).
Mumbai Rock was a $1.55million Inglis Easter yearling back in 2013 bought by James Bester Bloodstock and while her racetrack success was limited, she has certainly been a great producer.
Morning Rise Stud sold the full brother to Mumbai Muse at Inglis Premier this year for $250,000 to China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy and he has been named Bengal with Chris Waller to train.
Mumbai Rock has a yearling filly by I Am Invincibel and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Home Affairs.
Mumbai Muse is the 43rd stakes-winner or Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar and is his fourth stakes-winner from a daughter of Fastnet Rock.
