Well-bred mare shines at Otaki

A rich and deep pedigree struck a winning blow at Otaki where our homebred Mulan Ardeche prevailed in a driving finish.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh sent the daughter of Dundeel south for a 2100 metre contest and the four-year-old made the long trip worthwhile with a determined display.

She took up a handy position near the pace and fought tooth and nail in the run home for jockey George Rooke to post the second win of her 15-start career, which also features seven placings.

Mulan Ardeche was purchased out of our draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for $180,000 by Raptors Thoroughbreds and is a daughter of the stakes performed Dehere mare Ardeche.

Her first foal was the Gr 3 Waikato Cup and Listed VRC Winter Championship Final winner Mongolian Marshal.

Ardeche is a half-sister to G2 Blazer Stakes and G1 Vinery Stud third Forever Loved with their dam the Listed Lightning Handicap and G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes runner-up Diamond Like.

It is another branch of the famed Eight Carat family and a pedigree littered with top-flight winners.

We sold Ardeche’s filly by Almanzor to Chinese interests for $110,000 during Book 1 at Karaka in January and the mare produced a daughter of Chaldean last season.

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