Oisin wins on homebred Maasai Mara

Wednesday evening saw an impressive return win for our homebred son of Roaring Lion and Wekeela, Maasai Mara, in a novice at Kempton. He became the first winner for Oisin Murphy in Qatar Racing colours since his own return last month.

Maasai Mara had finished in the frame on all three starts as a 2yo, including at Newmarket, and returned with a smooth win at the Sunbury track. Oisin soon positioned him upsides favourite Through The Ages and, when that one cracked at the top of the home straight, Maasai Mara draw clear without his rider having to get serious.

Maasai Mara hit the line with a comfortable 2 lengths to spare over Another Run. Gelded since his final run at 2, Maasai Mara was also wearing first-time blinkers but looked straightforward as he drew clear. He also relished the step to 1m3f and promises to win more races.

From the only crop of Roaring Lion – which already includes a Gr.1 winner in Dubai Mile – Maasai Mara is the second foal out of Wekeela, who was bought for 1,800,000gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mare Sake. Wekeela won two Gr.3s and was runner-up in three Gr.1s during her career, which started in France and finished in the US.

Wekeela’s first foal was Millennial Moon, also a winner for the John and Thady Gosden, who also have Wekeela’s 2yo colt by Kingman. Wekeela has a yearling filly by Lope de Vega and is back in foal to Millennial Moon’s sire Dubawi.