Racing
Ipswich Wednesday: Toowoomba sprinter out to strike
Trainer Troy Pascoe is hoping a simple gear change could be the key to unlocking former NSW sprinter Mazita as a force from his new home at Toowoomba.
Mazita will step out for only his fourth start for Pascoe when the gelding starts in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1680 metres at Ipswich on Wednesday.
A son of Merchant Navy, Mazita was bought on-line by Pascoe for a paltry $2,250 after winning four times in 26 starts for Scone trainer Lyle Chandler.
The six-year-old broke through for his first win for Pascoe when he led all the way over 1666 metres at Ipswich on December 3.
It was the first time Mazita had raced in a tongue-tie for Pascoe after the gelding failed at his two previous starts at Toowoomba.
"He'd been playing around with his bit so I put a tongue-tie on him," Pascoe said.
"It worked as he led all the way and I thought he'd run a big race with the gear change."
Pascoe took a liking to Mazita when he noticed he was up for sale.
"He was spelling when I got him and I noticed his rating was down a bit," Pascoe said.
"He ran second in a Highway Handicap at Rosehill last year and I thought he might be able to win a midweek metropolitan race up here which he did last start.
"He picked up $21,000 for the win so he's returned around 10 times what I paid for him."
Pascoe trains from breeder Steve Tregea's stables at Toowoomba and has a team of 14 horses in work.
His biggest win of his career came from the now retired Flash Aah who won the Listed Ipswich Cup this year.
"I was on the bones of my arse until Flash Aah won the Ipswich Cup," Pascoe said.
"But I've now got 14 in work and the stable is going a lot better."
Pascoe is confident Mazita can make it back-to-back Ipswich wins this week.
"The stable is having a good run at the moment and I'm expecting Mazita to run well," he said.
"He's up in grade a little bit but he's down in weight and is rock solid fit.
"He led last time he won but he can take a sit."
Mazita has the pedigree to become a force in Queensland under Pascoe who learnt his trade off former Hall Of Fame trainer, the late Jim Atkins.
Mazita's half-sister Igugu was crowned the 2011 Horse Of The Year and champion Three-Year-Old filly in her year in South Africa while half-brother Honorius won the Group 3 Craven Plate at Randwick in 2013.
The Mike De Kock-trained Igugu whose name means "jewel" in Zulu, became the first horse in history to win the South African Triple Tiara in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, SA Fillies Classic, and SA Oaks.
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