Blinkers turn around fortunes for Mahuta

Saturday 17 October 2015, 2:27pm

Mahuta has some big shoes to fill following his first stakes win at Caulfield.

The last two winners of the Listed Gothic Stakes, Stratum Star and Hucklebuck, have gone on to claim Group One wins the following spring.

The Darren Weir-trained Mahuta graduated from a Kyneton maiden victory to claim an all-the-way win in Saturday's 1400m race for three-year-olds.

Ridden by Mark Zahra, Mahuta ($19) led throughout in scoring by a neck from Holler ($4.60) with Flying Light ($11) 3-1/2 lengths away third.

"We always thought he had ability but it wasn't until the blinkers went on that it really sharpened him up," Weir's racing manager Jeremy Rogers said.

"We thought he'd come here and run really well and that he was way over the odds."

Rogers said Mahuta was a cheap buy, costing $35,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions sale.

Mahuta is likely to be aimed at a restricted Magic Millions race at Ballarat next month.

But first the son of Flying Spur may be given the chance at more black-type success, heading to the Carbine Club Stakes on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington on October 31.

Zahra said Mahuta was in an aggressive mood behind the barriers, but flew the gates and relaxed well.

"He landed in front and actually relaxed and got breathing and gave a good kick," Zahra said.

"It's not easy going from a maiden and then go back-to-back in town."

– AAP

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