Hazard Scores Maiden Stakes Win In Proud Miss Stakes

Talented mare Hazard broke through for a maiden win at stakes level with a smart performance in the 2015 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville this afternoon.

Hazard has been a consistent performer since she made her racing debut with a win at Geelong in 2012, but she went into the Proud Miss Stakes without a black type win on her racing resume, but a flawless ride from Ben Melham helped her enhance her value as future broodmare.

Miss Promiscuity hit the front at the 200 metre mark and looked as though she was going to be able to score her own maiden win at black type level, but Melham timed his run on Hazard to protection and the Flying Spur mare finished over the top of her rival to record a smart win.

Hazard has now recorded two wins from three starts this preparation, after winning the Grand Hotel Frankston Handicap (1000m) at Sandown on April 1 and the Ern Jensen Funerals Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on May 2, and trainer Lee Freedman believes that the five-year-old was more than worthy of a stakes win in the Proud Miss Stakes.

“Hazard is probably the mare that has been knocking on the door to win a black type race and the form since the spell has all been pitched towards either the Dark Jewel in Scone or this race and we opted to go with this race,” Freedman said.

“I can’t really fault her.”

Miss Promiscuity continued her consistent run of form this preparation and she added a Proud Miss Stakes place to her narrow victory in the Mitsubishi Superscreen Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on April 18 and a close second place finish behind Hazard in the Ern Jensen Funerals Handicap.

John Salanitri-trained I Love It started the Proud Miss Stakes as a clear favourite following her placings in the Group 2 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 2 and she had every possible chance, but was no match for the winner in the final stages of the race.

The Freedman stable are yet to decide on their future plans for Hazard, but she could heads to Queensland for races like the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6 or return to Melbourne for some winter sprinting events.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.