Mark Newnham never ceases to be amazed by the deeds of freewheeling front runner Expat. The trainer could do little more than shake his head in disbelief as the chestnut daughter of Makfi defied all challenges to win Saturday’s Gr 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill - win number eight from just thirteen starts for a rapidly escalating prize money tally of $474,000. Not bad for a horse who was within a hair’s breadth of banishment from the Newnham stable fifteen months ago.
Mark was pleasantly surprised to receive a phone call from Port Douglas based racehorse owner/breeder Tony McGrath in the spring of 2019. The two had never met, and because of subsequent Covid related travel restrictions they are still to make one another’s acquaintance. It turns out Tony has a fascination with staying fillies, or at least fillies with a stout pedigree who might find their way into an Oaks field one day.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more avid watcher of Sky Racing programmes than Tony McGrath whose regular observation of racing has brought him in touch with the progress of trainers across Australia. Mark Newnham had impressed him in several Sky interviews, and he was aware the former jockey had won the Gr 1 Spring Champion Stakes the previous year with filly Maid Of Honour. He’d also noted Mark’s second placing with Scarlet Dream behind Verry Elleegant in the Australian Oaks a few months later.
And thus Mark Newnham was Tony’s choice of trainer when he decided to send his two year old Makfi filly to Sydney to begin a journey that might just lead to an Oaks appearance somewhere in Australia. “She’d just been broken in when she arrived at my place,” recalled Mark. “A chestnut filly with four white stockings, not very tall and rather short coupled. She was built more in the mould of her paternal grandsire Dubawi. She really didn’t look like the Oaks filly Tony had envisaged.”
Horse and rider are both expats! Expat the racehorse is from New Zealand, the jockey Tom Sherry is a native of Ireland. They looked good together in the Millie Fox Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Tony had regarded shuttler Makfi as the likely mate for his Galileo mare Utmost Caution. A cross that might produce the kind of fast running stayer he was looking for - preferably a filly. Makfi’s two Group 1 wins, the 2000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques Le Marois were over a mile but he was producing winners up to a mile and a half. Of particular appeal to Tony was the fact that the son of Dubawi had already left Oaks winners from his shuttling missions to New Zealand’s Westbury Stud - Sofia Rosa (Australian Oaks) and Bonneval (NZ Oaks and Australian Oaks).
Expat’s first two preparations revealed nothing to suggest that she had a future as a stayer or a sprinter. “Her temperament was beautiful, but she didn’t show a glimmer of ability in her trackwork,” said Mark. “She’s still not a flash worker but back then she was legless. Her first two barrier trials didn’t rate. She may have beaten one home in each trial but was totally lacklustre. I actually rang Tony and declared that she had little future. He agreed that we should give her one race start before calling it quits.”
The events of December 29th 2020 at the post Xmas Gosford meeting, again emphasise the importance of exhausting all avenues before moving a racehorse on. As expected Expat started at bolter’s odds ($51.00) in an 1100m Maiden with Josh Parr in the saddle. She displayed traits on the day that are still part of her racing technique.
From the inside gate Parr had to ride her along to avoid being cut off, but she relaxed immediately on finding the lead. Expat slipped away on straightening for home but looked vulnerable when Godolphin’s In Flanders challenged strongly. Expat rallied when she sensed she had company - exactly as she does to this day. She also established her liking for rain affected ground in winning the Gosford race. Perhaps Josh Parr summed up the sentiments of Mark Newnham and Tony McGrath when he said “that wasn’t supposed to happen” as he unsaddled the shock winner.
Expat wins her maiden at Gosford 29/12/2020 with Josh Parr - She started at $51 and stunned connections - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“From that moment on she was a different horse,” says Mark. “She switched on and has been an amazing competitor ever since. She was a touch disappointing on firm ground at her following run at Gosford, but then put together consecutive wins at Newcastle and Canterbury. She wasn’t seen again for thirteen weeks.
Expat won two races from just five runs at her next preparation in the winter of 2021. Both races were on H8 tracks at Rosehill. With higher goals in mind Mark opted for another spell before testing the water against stronger opposition. On resuming the mare finished second in two barrier trials before scoring a comfortable win on a H9 track at Rosehill. In looking for a stakes race Mark opted for a quick trip to Brisbane for a 1300m race at Eagle Farm just before Xmas. “She didn’t stretch out at all, and ran the worst race of her career,” said Mark. “She was in great shape on arriving back in Sydney, so we aimed for the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford over the Xmas period. Everything fell into place.
“We had an eighteen day gap between Brisbane and Gosford, and some coastal rain threw up a Soft 7 track. As usual she quickly led and relaxed in front for Tom Sherry. Brookspire from the Waller stable was coming off a strong Randwick win and sat right behind us in the run. She looked very dangerous when she peeled off our back, but predictably our girl was ready for the challenge. Expat just laid back the ears and refused to let Brookspire get past her. Had they gone another hundred metres I’ll bet she would have won by the same neck margin. My first thought as she went past the post was just how far she’d come. It was exactly a year since her first win on the same track. From a maiden to a Gr 3 in twelve months. It doesn’t get much better.”
Expat's first stakes win. The Gr. 3 Belle Of The Turf at Gosford. She refused to let Brookspire get past her - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
With the Gr 2 Millie Fox on his radar, Mark decided on a two week “refresher course” for his latest Group winner at Paul Blattman’s Whispering Pines agistment property at Oakdale near Camden. “She’s always been a big eater but nowadays she borders on gluttonous and can get away from you pretty quickly,” said Mark. “I asked Paul Blattman to make sure she got a strong swim every day to keep her up to the mark.
“She won a barrier trial at Warwick Farm without undue pressure on Feb 4th, and then we had fifteen days to the Millie Fox. Tom Sherry summed it up after riding her work on the Tuesday morning when he confidently predicted she’d be winning the Gr 2. She’s a special mare.”
Not all horses maintain a regular pattern throughout their racing careers, but this four year old mare runs like clockwork. She has been able to find the front in all eight wins and is happiest when calling the shots. Even if she has to be “stoked up” to cross other runners, she can be relied upon to come straight back to her rider when necessary. It’s a rare trait. Easily the most significant feature of her record so far, is her liking for rain affected ground - four wins in heavy going, three under soft conditions and only one on firm ground at Canterbury. Obviously she has a “mud runner’s” reputation but that’s a nice problem to have.
Tom Sherry has a perfect understanding of Expat according to his master Mark Newnham. Here they are after the Millie Fox - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Mark Newnham, Tony McGrath and Tom Sherry won’t mind one little bit if Sydney’s wet spell continues right up to March 12th when Expat will face her toughest test. The mare will take on the cream of Australia’s fillies and mares in the $600,000 Gr 1 Coolmore Classic of 1500m. Her only run beyond 1400m was in the Belle Of the Turf when she was very strong at the end of the Gosford mile. It’s certainly the logical next step for a vastly improved mare.
“I know it’s a huge step up for her, but she could be the sleeper if a few things go her way,” says Mark. “To begin with she’ll be greatly advantaged if the track happens to be anywhere between soft and heavy. Should she draw a half decent alley she’d be almost guaranteed the lead. Her ability to relax in front would give her a good breather between the 800m and the hometurn, and then you’ve got her disdain for defeat. It’s a quantum leap, but this mare is improving all the time. Win, lose or draw she’s in the Coolmore Classic. Not bad for a filly who looked like she wouldn’t win a maiden at the Come By Chance picnics a couple of years ago.”
Win number 3! Expat wins at a Canterbury night meeting 12/02/2021 with Tom Sherry - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Expat (Tom Sherry) makes it 8 wins from 13 starts in the Gr. 2 Millie Fox - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)