Marquardt too good in the Nivison

Daughter of Shamardal records her second Stakes win in Australia

Settling towards the rear of the field, the John Thompson-trained Marquardt (Shamardal) surged down the outside of the field to defeat Commands mare Dorf Command in the Listed Nivison Stakes at Royal Randwick in Australia.

Ridden by Nash Rawiller, the Patinack Farm-owned mare improved on her luckless seventh first up behind Trim two weeks ago to take her second Stakes win by half a length.

Out of the Centaine mare Centrefold Angel, Marquardt was bred by Little Avondale Trust, who sold her at New Zealand’s Premier Yearling Sale for $100,000 to Patinack Farm.

Trainer John Thompson indicated that the mare would now head towards the Melbourne spring carnival for a few 1400m races at G2 level before she progresses to her ultimate aim, the G1 Myer Classic over the mile at Flemington.

The sire of 17 Stakes winners globally, including G1 winners Faint Perfume and Lope De Vega, Shamardal was also represented earlier in the day by Captain Sonador which finished third in the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap behind Sheikh Mohammed’s Drumbeats.