Racing: Maroofity exhibits perfect timing

Big race wins do not come with better timing for Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis, one of the major players at this week's National Yearling Sales.

Maroofity's thrilling all-the-way Thorndon Mile victory on Saturday capped the most memorable seven minutes of his life on the Karaka buyers' bench three years ago.

In that fairytale session, Ellis bought horse-of-the-year Kings Chapel, for $35,000, and Maroofity for $46,000.

They've now won three group ones each and banked more than a million in stakes for the Tauranga Racing Syndicate he manages.

"I'd rate that the biggest story in syndication in recent times in New Zealand," said Ellis, who is looking forward to Kings Chapel's reappearance in the Waikato Draught Sprint on February 12.

"They bought five all together, we sold one overseas and the other four have all won."

Ellis is especially thrilled for the syndicate's Dawn Boyd, the 89-year-old mother of Te Akau manager Sam, who sold her AMP shares to finance her way into the eight-strong group.

"All of them will be active again this week - they're very loyal owners," said Ellis. But it won't necessarily be as the same syndicate.

After the problems they've had getting Maroofity back to the 2-year-old form that won him both Sires Produce races, Saturday's Thorndon victory against a star-studded line-up was easily the most satisfying for the camp.

First a virus knocked the Mark Walker-trained gelding for six early in his return to racing as a 3-year-old, then he ruined his chances by over-racing.

"Lance O'Sullivan got him to relax okay and settle as a 2-year-old but we tried that at three and it didn't work," said Ellis.

"He's a horse who likes to set his own rules - that's how he races best."

Rider Lisa Cropp, who celebrated her first group one success since Kailey's 1997 Railway Handicap win, rode Maroofity exactly to Walker's instructions on Saturday.

The premiership leader had partnered him just once before but was adamant she knew the key to his return to group success.

"I begged Mark to put me on," said Cropp, who rode four winners on Saturday.

"This horse always settles for me. I think I've just got the knack with him - it's all in the hands.

"The way he felt underneath me, I was confident we were going to win 600m from home."

So was Hayden Tinsley, who had ridden Maroofity twice in his previous three runs and knew a long way out that the chase was hopeless for game runner-up Zvezda.

"He's a tough horse and when he gets his own way in front he's very hard to peg back," he said.

Calveen's trainer, Lance O'Sullivan, said there were no excuses for the seventh-placed favourite and yesterday he was unsure where she'll head next.

"The winner just ran her off her feet," he said.

"There's really not much left for her now."

Walker said Maroofity would now get a short break before being set for another group one, the Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie on March 26.