The secret behind I Am Mamwaazel’s recent success

I Am Mamwaazel has been a revelation this preparation, winning twice and finishing runner up in his most recent four starts. The John Rolfe-trained gelding, who moved to the Nation’s Capital from Lindsay Park, is a tough, on-speed galloper whose success can be attributed to something quite unique.

“We float him about half way to Goulburn and back before his runs here on his home track.” Rolfe said.

“He’s quite highly strung so we’ve found that the drive just settles him down and it’s obviously working with how well he’s been racing.”

“Racing him here at home has been helpful so he doesn’t have to travel 4 or 5 hours but with an hour or so on the road we’ve found the right middle ground.”

The son of I Am Invincible lines up in Friday’s TAB Federal (1200m) and although drawn the widest in Barrier 8, will likely be one of the major players in a strong field.

“We’ll look to roll to the front again.” Rolfe said. “It’s the only way to ride him, if something wants to take him on and goes a bit stupid we can take a sit just in behind but we’ll definitely be positive.”

Looking for three consecutive victories last start, I Am Mamwaazel ran into a smart one in John Sargent’s Healthy Beauty but was far from disgraced when leading at a hot tempo under the big weight of 62kgs.

The TAB Federal represents a step up in grade for I Am Mamwaazel but Rolfe is confident he will measure up.

“He’s got to step up and take on the good ones eventually and he won’t have to carry the big weight like last start.” Rolfe said.

“He’s pulled up great from his last run and is in great condition again for Friday.”

The TAB Federal is Race Six on Friday’s program and is due to jump at 4:44pm.

A race later, the first two-year-old race held at Thoroughbred Park in 2023 will feature a locally-trained duo as well as a number of juveniles from top Sydney yards.

Canberra racing fans will undoubtedly have one eye on those who may progress to 50th Anniversary of the John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m) in March.

Peter & Paul Snowden’s Make A Call, a $825,000 son of Extreme Choice, who was bred and sold by Sutton’s Mane Lodge, will be seen for the first time since running 4th on debut in the Group 3 Breeders Plate (1000m).

Representing the locals will be Gratz Vella’s Chop The Ice and Chasing a Quid. The latter, a lovely son of Capitalist, boasts a Metropolitan placing and a 5th in the Gold Coast Turf Club Clan O’Sullivan (1000m) from his two starts to date.