Alwyn Park resident Maschino refuses to have a breather on the back of a full book with more black-type on the horizon via Joker’s Grin, Machine Gun Gracie and unbeaten 3yo Smooth Chino.
Maschino is also doing it day-to-day with a double on the Northerly Stakes program that highlighted a run of six winners in five days. Hey Pino (Belmont) was first cab off the rank on Wednesday and he was followed by Coatachino (Albany) on Thursday, Razmas (Esperance) on Friday, Trio and Grand Reserve (Ascot) on Saturday and 3yo debutante Chino Bay (Bunbury) on Sunday.
Grand Reserve (5g Maschino – Champagne Bubbles by Scandal Keeper) is winding up for another successful campaign after winning the Parliamentarians Cup (2200m) on Saturday for trainer Dan Morton and a syndicate managed by his wife Carol.
Photo / Western Racepix
Chris Parnham found the sweet seat behind front-runners Major Mario (Vert De Grece) and Noahquintilly (Playing God) and then got the better of Fame (Manhattan Rain) who did it the hard way three wide.
“He’s a beautiful horse and is trending in right direction,” Morton said. “He’s getting up to a distance range that suits and is a fully matured horse now. He’s a stayer in form and is in for a nice prep.”
Grand Reserve was bred and sold by Alwyn Park owner John Andrew for $85,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions and has now earned $230,000 including Westspeed Bonuses approaching $70,000.
The family has been a successful one since his second-dam Shathor (Tirol) arrived at the Serpentine nursery in 2004. Shathor foaled five winners topped by Captain Obvious (Verglas) who won 16 races including the G3 Singapore Jumbo Jet Trophy, Malaysian Magic Millions Classic and the Meydan Al Naboodah Hcp.
Champagne Bubbles has continued the line with Vert De Grece (Ire) winners Aidan’s Choice and Grece Lightning arriving before Grand Reserve. Her most recent foals are a 2yo colt by Rommel, yearling colt by Shooting To Win and filly foal by Aysar.
Meanwhile, Jokers Grin has been given a veterinary clearance to back-up in the G3 The Gold Rush (1400m) worth $1.5 million next Saturday. He was beaten a length and change in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) following Group 3 wins in the Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) and Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Smooth Chino also holds an entry into The Gold Rush. Unbeaten in five starts, the Great Southern galloper completed a hat-trick in the RL Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) in February and resumed last month for a running double at Ascot for part-owner and trainer Indianna Weinert.
Reigning WA Champion 3YO Machine Gun Gracie isn’t far away from reappearing after winning a barrier trial over 1450m at Lark Hill on December 1. The Justine Erkelens-trained mare completed the G3 WA Oaks – G2 WA Derby double in April.
