Moonee Valley double for Al Maher

DECEMBER 14, 2009: Daughters of Al Maher enjoyed a unique Moonee Valley double when Mesmerize Me won on the Friday night program staged by the MVRC, and Lady Gaga landed the first race conducted at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.

A member of the John Maloney stable at Caulfield, Mesmerize Me followed-up on her encouraging debut second with a narrow victory in a Maiden Plate staged over 1200 metres.

The Mick Price trained Lady Gaga won over the same course and distance less than 48 hours later, going to post a warm 6/4 favourite and romping home four lengths clear of her nearest rival.

Lady Gaga has now won all of her past three outings, having lost her maiden status at Mornington before winning at Moonee Valley on the MVRC’s December 4 program.

Her seven career starts have now returned over $78,000, or close enough to her $80,000 purchase price when bought by Mick Price Breeding & Racing P/L at the 2008 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

Mesmerize Me fetched $20,000 less as a yearling, having been sold by Swettenham Stud at the 2008 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The daughter of Al Maher has only faced the starter on two occasions, yet is already a Melbourne metropolitan winner.

Al Maher’s first crop 3-year-olds of 2009/10 include no fewer than 18 individual winners. The tally makes Emirates Park’s emerging sire-son of Danehill (USA) the second most profile stallion of the category.