Machine Gun Gracie’s magnificent first preparation of racing ended at Ascot on Saturday with another superb winning performance, a victory that validates her status as the best three-year-old in WA racing.
In similar vein to what she had done previously against the girls in the Natasha Stakes (2200m) and WA Oaks (2400m), Machine Gun Gracie outclassed the boys to make it a feature hat trick in the WATC Schweppes Derby (2400m).
Since making her debut at Bunbury in February, the daughter of Maschino has gone from strength to strength, improving with each run and when she wasn’t winning four races, she finished second twice in a brilliant six-start maiden campaign.
Aside from the well-deserved accolades, Machine Gun Gracie, a $45,000 yearling, has collected a touch over half a million dollars in prizemoney and bonuses, an inspired selection after she was sought out by trainer Justine Erkelens at Perth's Magic Millions Sale.
Machine Gun Gracie’s Group 2 blitz in the WA Derby gave Erkelens her biggest thrill in racing after Group 3 and Listed wins with Own The Queen, Friar Fox and Action Pak previously.
After Machine Gracie enjoys a long spell, Erkelens will look to add to her stakes tally and go higher, with the Ascot carnival later in the year a firm focus, resisting any temptation to take her gun filly over east.
“She’s pulled up good and is just incredible, she doesn’t really realise what she’s doing at the moment,” Erkelens said on TABradio.
“She’s a special horse and seems to do everything you ask of her.
“I would like to prep her and have her run in the Northerly.
“I would like to win a race in Perth before we go east.
“I would like to win the Northerly and the Perth Cup.
“She would be good for that, but we’ll let the dust settle and see where we head.
“She just amazes me how she’s such a big horse, so young and can do everything.
“Nothing seems to faze her which is just weird.
“How she can run that fast just amazes me.”
It’s been a patient build up to get Machine Gun Gracie to the races, but Erkelens identified something special early.
There was an appeal the first time she laid eyes on her.
“I went down to Scenic stud to look at some of the yearlings,” Erkelens said.
“I’d seen her when she came out and thought straight away, she just had the walk on her.
“She was big as a yearling but looked so put together.
“I just had to have her, and I bought her at the sales.
“It went from there.”
Machine Gun Gracie, ridden by Shaun O’Donnell, won the WA Derby by 1 ¾ lengths, defeating Funchal and Sail Session.
O’Donnell, who has been aboard Machine Gun Gracie from the beginning, claimed his second WA Derby after Beaujolais Boy.
The Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) will be run at Ascot in December.
Julio Santarelli