Joe Pride heeds Jamie Melham's advice for Mazu in Group 1 Doomben 10,000

News.com.au

16-05-2025

As wet track warrior Mazu looks to turn back time and win another Doomben 10,000, trainer Joe Pride reckons he has identified one of the keys to the evergreen galloper.
A kind, female touch.
Jamie Melham will ride Doomben 10,000 rival Benedetta on Saturday, but Pride has her words about Mazu ringing in his ears.
'Jamie is convinced you don't need to do much on him, you don't need to stand over him or be too vigorous on him,' Pride said.
'He is ridden by a female rider in his work and Jamie is the only one who has won on him in the last year.
'I thought keeping the theme up, getting another female rider (Rachel King) for the 10,000, that could work.
'Mazu is one of these horses who started racing early in his life.
'He has been around for a few racing seasons, but he has still got some petrol left in the tank.'
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There is a potential of a rain-affected Doomben track although exactly how it will be rated is in the lap of the gods – and if the weather forecasters are on the money.
Six-year-old Mazu is a swimmer and would love a heavy track.
Of his nine career wins, five have come on heavy tracks and three on soft tracks.
A comprehensive win in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes, with Jamie Melham in the saddle, has him primed to fire on Saturday as an $11 chance in the $1.5m Doomben 10,000.
It will be his fourth crack at the Doomben 10,000, having won the race in 2022 when he was trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.
Last year, he finished seventh in the 10,000 but was less than three lengths off Bella Nipotina.
'There have been some pretty strong Doomben 10,000s that he has contested,' Pride said.
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'It will be interesting race on Saturday as there are a few who aren't going to be suited if the track gets well into soft or heavy range.
'I saw the barrier (13) and then I saw the ones around him and I thought it doesn't make a hell of a lot of difference.
'I don't mind the whole set up.
'It's perfect race for him, I'm glad I have kept him fresh for it.
'I could have given him another run or brought him up for the Victory Stakes (last Saturday), but I thought he was best served going four weeks into it and on the fresh side ready to go.'
Meanwhile, Pride indicated elite performer Private Eye would have another trial before being sent north for a first-up tilt at the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on May 31.
'He is in great shape and I will bring Nash Rawiller up to ride him,' Pride said.
Private Eye is rated a $15 chance in Kingsford Smith Cup betting and is the same price in Stradbroke Handicap markets.