Mazu wins $1 million The Shorts despite pre-race delays

Veteran sprinter Mazu secured an upset victory in the $1 million The Shorts race at Randwick on Saturday. Despite pre-race difficulties where the eight-year-old gelding repeatedly refused to advance to the starting stalls, Mazu dominated the 1100m event, holding off Joliestar by a neck. Stablemate King’s Secret, also trained by Joe Pride, finished a close third.

While the win positions Mazu as a potential contender for the $20 million Everest race in October, trainer Joe Pride expressed hesitation regarding the matchup. Pride noted that while the owners will make the final decision, he prefers to target races where the horse has a higher probability of winning, suggesting Mazu might be better suited for a contest on a wet track.