Written by Paul Vettise
Exciting 3-year-old prospect Mamaragan (Wandjina) will be without his regular partner at Rosehill, but trainer John Thompson has found an ideal replacement and is confident against a sensational field.
The colt will make his seasonal debut in the G3 San Domenico S. on Saturday when he will be opposed by a small and intriguing line-up, which includes the impressive last start Rosebud S. winner Anders (Not A Single Doubt), and brilliant unbeaten colts Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) and Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}).
Mamaragan created a fine impression during a light 2-year-old campaign for Thompson and integral to the success was jockey Nash Rawiller, who is unavailable for the campaign-opener.
“Unfortunately, we’ve got Nash suspended so Glen Boss takes the reins and I’m sure big race Bossy can get the job done,” Thompson said.
Mamaragan was unbeaten in two trials before he made his juvenile debut and carried that form over with victory in the G2 Silver Slipper S. His talent was again emphasised when he finished third at his next appearance in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and filled a similar spot in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S.
He was then turned out by Thompson and has performed well in both of his lead-up trials to the San Domenico S. with the G2 Run To The Rose and the G1 Golden Rose S. to follow.
“I’m very happy with the colt and he’s improving all the time. That’s what you want to see coming into a preparation and I think he is a high quality colt and I'm very excited to see how he measures up on Saturday,” Thomson said.
“I’m very happy with the colt and he’s improving all the time.” – John Thompson
"It's a really interesting year with the 3-year-olds, especially the colts. There seems to be half a dozen that are really good so it will be interesting how they measure up once they all start running against each other.”
A $180,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase out of Newgate’s draft, Mamaragan is a half-brother to the multiple winners God Forbid (Floral Pegasus) and his sibling Forbid Me Not.
Mamaragan as a yearling
Their dam Forbidden (General Nediym) was successful five times and is a half-sister to the G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile winner Son Of Maher (Al Maher) and his sister Dance With Her won the Listed Centaurea S.
Another feature name in the pedigree is the multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire So You Think (NZ) and Sound Action (Vettori {Ire}), winner of the G1 Australasian Oaks and the G1 Ranvet S.
Forgive and forget
Meanwhile, Thompson has drawn a line through the unplaced resuming run of Mamaragan’s stablemate Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) in the G1 Winx S. He was given no peace in front and dropped out in the run home.
Dreamforce
“He pulled up fine, but it was a disaster. That happens sometimes when you’ve got a leader who goes forward and there was a lot of pressure in the race and it set it up for the swoopers.
“The main thing is that he came through it fine and he’ll got to the G2 Theo Marks S. next in a couple of weeks.”
Last season’s G1 George Ryder S. winner also has a smart second-up record having won three times with the benefit of an outing under his belt.
