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Matchmaker lands Canterbury Belle Stakes

Former Westbury Park shuttler Mafki (Dubawi) sired his 34th stakes winner on Saturday as his daughter Matchmaker (3 f ex Love Somebody by Fastnet Rock) landed the Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Riccarton and now looks set for a crack at the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) on November 14. 

The Nick Wigley and Kayla Milnes-trained three-year-old filly was having her first start of her career and she scooted clear to beat Laced With Gold (Showcasing) by a length and a quarter, while Stella Creek (Per Incanto) finished another length away in third. 

“She won her first race on a slow track so I was a wee bit concerned about how firm it was today,” Wigley said.

“She looked a little scratchy early on but once she got into her rhythm she seemed to be just fine.

“She settled beautifully and when Tina angled her into the clear she burst to them pretty quickly.

“It has been a dream of both Gus and I to win this race and now we’ve done it the feeling is just indescribable.”

The filly is one of three winners out of the placed Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Love Somebody, who is herself a daughter of Group 2 winner Dynamic Love (Brave Warrior).

Dynamic Love herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Key Bar Nights (Anabaa) - the dam of fellow Listed winner Barbed. Further back this is also the family of Singapore champion Top Knight (Zoustar) and Listed-winning duo Princess Margaret (Spectrum) and Over Exposure (Rothesay).

Makfi's five Group 1 winners include three New Zealand elite scorers; Bonneval, Sofia Rosa and Marky Mark. The son of Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) - who shuttled to Westbury Stud for six seasons - stood at Tweenhills Stud in the northern hemisphere, before being sold by Qatar Racing in 2016 and now resides at Japan Bloodstock Breeders' Association.