Muscle Mass sires the quinella in Group 1 Redwood Classic

The royally bred Mexicana led home a Muscle Mass quinella in Sunday’s $50,000 Group 1 Redwood Classic for 2YO Trotters at Maryborough, with the New Zealand bred, owned and trained filly downing Illawong Barmah at her first start on Australian soil.

Away cleanly from the stand, Mexicana avoided an early galloper before setting her sights on the lead with a little over a mile to go in the 2,190m feature.

Trotting fluently throughout, Mexicana determinedly held out the challenge of Illawong Barmah, whom had enjoyed the trailing spot behind her for much of the race, in the straight to score by a almost a metre and a half at the line.

The Josh Dickie trained filly has now won three races, and placed in all four remaining starts, for earnings of $47,415.

A homebred for Trevor Casey and Kate Marriott, Mexicana is out of the Group 1 Harness Jewels 3YO Ruby winner Pocoro and is a grand-daughter of the broodmare gem Niamey, the dam of an incredible three individual Group 1 winners – Pocaro, Daenerys Targaryen (a Redwood Classic winner also) and Sun Of Anarchy as well as the multiple Group 1 runner-up Springbank Sam.

It was the second time in the race’s history that Muscle Mass has sired the first two home in the Redwood with the former Australian 2YO Trotting Male of the Year Illawong Byron (a full brother to Illawong Barmah) defeating the Harness Jewels and Breeders Crown winner Custodian back in 2016 – an impressive feat from just three crops of racing age!