The Mareeba Mango enjoying sweet success

The Mareeba Mango, a horse who showed so much promise when he first came to our shores two years ago, is finally displaying his true potential after spending months of uncertainty on the sidelines.

THE MAREEBA MANGO winning the SEL
THE MAREEBA MANGO winning the SEL Picture: Selangor Turf Club

The Snitzel gelding was unplaced in one run at two and placed once at Ararat in two starts at three in Australia before being brought to Singapore by Lee Freedman.

Under the Australian trainer, The Mareeba Mango  finished second in his Kranji debut, then went on to win his next start by four lengths in a Restricted Maiden event in 2020.

When Freedman departed Singapore, The Mareeba Mango was transferred to another trainer but he never raced in Singapore again.

The gelding crossed the causeway to join Kevin Coetzee in the middle of last year. He had one start under the Ipoh trainer early this year and it was another long break before he raced again.

Under his new trainer Simon Dunderdale, the six-year-old made a winning return to the racetrack when he scored a runaway five-length win in a Class 4 event over 1100m at Sungei Besi two weeks ago.

On the back of that run, punters sent him out a raging favourite (RM6) in the Max Two Stakes over 1275m on the No 2 track today. 

Ridden once again by Clyde Leck, THE The Mareeba Mango led his rivals on a merry chase to win by 1 3/4 lengths in the set-weight contest.

"Clyde rode him strong out of the gates but once he got to the lead, it was a comfortable win for him," said Dunderdale. "Looking forward to seeing how he can go in Class 3."

The Mareeba Mango was one of six winners for Clyde Leck today, the third time this year the apprentice has achieved that feat.

"I was instructed to be sharp to ping out of the gates and come across the field to the rails and thankfully I was able to do just that which already won me half the race," said Clyde.

"The pace I set was quicker than what I wanted but I could just feel how much was left in the tank. At the home turn when he started to stride out and switch leads I was confident I could win the race. This horse won two races in two starts for me and I know he can do better.


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