Weight scale boosts Molly’s chances

[Wandering Eyes]

Marotiri Molly’s rise to black-type prominence has been testament to not only her talent, but also the patience of Foxton trainer Matt Dixon.

She required careful handling through the early stages of her career before rising through the grades and on Saturday will attempt to add the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) to her record.

“She’s good to go and she’s not an overly big mare and it’s been pretty tough on her carrying big weights, so I’m looking forward to getting her back to a set weight race,” Dixon said.

The daughter of Per Incanto will be taking aim at the Pukekohe event for the second time after a luckless bid 12 months ago.

“She was third to La Crique after missing the kick and ended up two lengths last and flew home,” Dixon said.

Marotiri Molly heads north off the back of an open handicap win at Tauherenikau, the seventh victory of the seven-year-old’s 18-start career.

“I got her unbroken as a late three-year-old and then she suffered from chronic shin soreness,” Dixon said.

“She went sore about five or six times, she’s very fine boned and every time I put a bit of pressure on her she’d go shinny again and had a few growing pains along the way as well.

“She always showed a lot of speed and ability, but when the pressure went on her legs couldn’t cope, it was a long and frustrating process. It took a lot of time to get over all that before she was away.”

Marotiri Molly was ridden by apprentice Toni Davies to her latest success under 60kg. It was a fine effort as she gave placegetters Blissful Belle and Kopua four and five kilos respectively.

“She had 62kg so we had to claim, it’s been a bit tricky so it was a really good effort at Tauherenikau with all the dead weight,” Dixon said.

“She got held up and then had to pick herself up again and got past horses carrying a lot less weight.”

Dixon has yet to confirm the mare’s program beyond Pukekohe, but another crack at a Group One title is high on the wish list.

“Last year she won the Challenge Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) after Pukekohe and that’s a possibility,” Dixon said.

“If she was to win on Saturday, then she would deserve another crack at trying to win a Group One. We had a go at the Thorndon last year, that was at the end of her campaign, even still she only got beaten less than a length.

“She was a late nom for the race, it was never really on the radar, so it was an afterthought.”

Raced by breeders Beven and Christine Parlato, Marotiri Molly is a daughter of the Al Akbar mare Marotiri Miss, who won five times and finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m).

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