Toodyay breeders Dave and Doris Keens doubled up within a half-hour when their 3yo maiden winners Masmelo (Maschino) and Solo Vega (Lucky Vega) saluted on Tuesday. They were offered by Gervase Park owners Chris and Andrea Gales (as agent) at the Perth Magic Millions last year and the Keens’ kept a share in both 3yo fillies.
Masmelo (Photo / Western Racepix) put on an exhibition putting her more seasoned rivals away by five lengths in the Hunter Manning Recruitment Maiden (1800m) at Ascot. She wasn’t sighted at her first and only start last season in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) but has made rapid improvement this season while stepping up in distance.
Starting an even-money favourite on Cup Day, the Maschino filly was kept in the three-wide line by Luke Campbell who was following instructions from his old boss Neville Parnham. “She’s a big, tall filly and needs plenty of galloping room,” Parnham said post-race. “She was cruising in a nice rhythm and it was good to see her let down and sprint away from them.
“She’s still quite immature and I’m in two minds what to do now. That was her fourth run this prep and the good races have probably come a bit too soon. I think she can come back and stay in the autumn so we will get her ready for the WA Oaks.”
Maschino sired Jokers Grin to win to G3 Prince of Wales Stakes (1200m) on Saturday to frank his standing as the best sprinter in WA. The Alwyn Park stallion also has classic credentials as the sire of Machine Gun Gracie who doubled up in the G2 WA Derby and G3 WA Oaks earlier this year.
Masmelo was a bargain at just $3,000 as a yearling in the Swan Valley. “She’s from a mare by Blackfriars and I bought her at last year’s Magic Millions Winter Sale,” Parnham recalled. “She was parading right behind another horse I was looking at but she was the one that caught my eye.”
Her dam Melteme (Blackfriars) was a Northam maiden winner for Lou Luciani and she was sold by De Grey Park carrying Masmelo for $6,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Winter Sale. Second-dam Pride (Hussonet) is a half-sister to the dam of LR Bunbury Breeders’ Classic (1400m) winner Summer Swallow (Catbird).
Solo Vega was very impressive on debut in the Switchboards WA Maiden (1200m) at Bunbury. She failed to make a $30,000 reserve as a yearling and was subsequently placed with Keysbrook trainer Ryan Hill.
“She stepped out a winner at her first race start on Melbourne Cup Day,” Hill posted on Facebook. “It’s taken her a few preparations to make it to the races, but the patience has paid off.”
The win wasn’t entirely unexpected after firming from $26 into $18. She’s by Yulong Stud sire Lucky Vega (Ire) and her dam Singles (Not A Single Doubt) was a $4,500 buy for the Keens’ from an Inglis Digital Sale in 2022.
