Mic Mac set for 1600m challenge after Memsie glory

By Brians Newsflash

The Greg Eurell trained Mic Mac houses a giant motor in his pencil-thin frame and he needed to call on all reserves when downing a star-studded field in Saturday's Group 2 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, reports Breednet.com.au.It says: Making his first start at weight-for-age Mic Mac(Statue Of Liberty (USA) x Amandine (Tertian) was given a positive ride by Dan Nikolic who took then 4yo gelding straight to the front, setting moderate fractions before holding off all challengers in the straig

It says: Making his first start at weight-for-age Mic Mac(Statue Of Liberty (USA) x Amandine (Tertian) was given a positive ride by Dan Nikolic who took then 4yo gelding straight to the front, setting moderate fractions before holding off all challengers in the straight. Von Costa De Hero was the first to challenge but when he put up the white flag it was left to the late finishing Whobegotyou (Street Cry) and Zarita (Pentire) to fill the minor places. Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Viewed finished a pleasing fourth, inching out 2007 Cup hero Efficient.

"I thought Mic Mac was absolutely terrific today," Eurell said. "He was stepping up to weight-for-age, he was meeting a few on much worse weight terms and he had so much against him. It was an interesting race, I don't think it was run exactly how we would have liked it...I was confident all week and he has lived up to the opinion I have of him and hopefully he can step up to the mile in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes in a couple of weeks....He loves the Valley, he's now shown he can win at weight-for-age and hopefully he can take the next step up to tackle a mile."

Nikolic, who was riding Mic Mac for the first time, was effusive in his praise of the winner. "He's a real star in the making," Nikolic said. "He's a good horse and has got a great temperament. He's probably got a bit more to do next time in when he fills out."

A homebred for Maurice Messara, Mic Mac is the third foal of the useful racemare Amandine (Tertian), who also raced for Messara, chalking up 6 wins from 20 starts with earnings of $124,700. Amandine has an unraced 3yo filly by Denon named Galantine and an unnamed 2yo colt by Grass Wonder. She was covered by Denon last year after having missed to an earlier cover by Kempinsky.