After racing with little luck in Melbourne last spring, nothing looked like changing for Multaja when she made her 2019 debut in the Group II Typhoon Tracy Stakes at Moonee Valley on February 22, but a switch to Godolphin's Sydney stables has seen a turnaround in fortunes.
A soft win at Hawkesbury on March 20 proved the perfect prep for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) to open her stakes account in Saturday's Group III PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
With the field spread across the track at the 300 metres, Multaja came with a sweeping run down the outside under Craig Williams to defeat Into The Abyss (Foxwedge) by a head with a length and a quarter back to So Taken (Street Boss) in third. (images Steve Hart).
"We thought she was a certainty licked in the Red Roses (last spring) and we were patient this time in," winning trainer James Cummings said.
"She has rewarded us. She may go to the JB Carr (Stakes) but I have to be convinced she will run a strong seven. She should be a good chance in that.
"She had been knocking on the door for a stakes victory. Her form this preparation was excellent. Her defeat of the older mares (at Hawkesbury) was timely and it set her up beautifully for this."
The Darley homebred advanced her record to 4 wins and 1 second from 9 starts with earnings of $290,900.
A full sister to the 2017 Listed ATC Lonhro Plate winner Veranillo, Multaja is the third foal of the useful Lonhro mare Shelters who is a sister to the Group I BRC The TJ Smith Classic winner Benfica who is now on the Aquis Farm stallion roster.
Shelters has an unraced 2yo colt foal by Helmet named Shielded and a colt foal by Medaglia d'Oro (USA). She was covered by Medaglia d'Oro's Group 1 winning son Astern last spring.
Multaja becomes the 126th stakes-winner for Medaglia d'Oro (USA) who is back home in Kentucky after his eight years of shuttling came to an end in 2017.
He has 19 lots catalogued from his penultimate crop of yearlings at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
