Spicy Margs runs hot at Caulfield to lift Beau Mertens' spirits
Spicy Margs winning at Caulfield on Saturday
Three days after farewelling his late father and Group 1 jockey Peter Mertens in a beautiful service at Caulfield, son Beau returned a winner aboard Spicy Margs to rollicking celebrations.
Spicy Margs, a pacy all-female owned daughter of Deep Field prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, led all the way to win the 1100m 2YO Handicap on Saturday.
Peter Moody-trained favourite Sensical set out after Spicy Margs but could not get closer than 2-¼ lengths with Elderberry and Pure Paradise making up the first four.
"I speak on behalf of all my family, it was an absolute fantastic to see the amount of people and love and connection they had with dad," Mertens said of last Thursday's service.
"I listened to plenty of good stories from his old mates, it was a beautiful service, and I couldn't thank the club enough."
Spicy Margs gave Mertens "a beautiful ride" also.Spicy Margs takes out the first card on the card at Caulfield 🌶 @beau_mertens@MickPriceRacingpic.twitter.com/HzHCuWt4EW
- 7HorseRacing ðŸÂÂÂŽ (@7horseracing) July 8, 2023
"She's very speedy ... she jumped out of the machines and jumped straight on to the bridle, gave me a beautiful ride and travelled so nicely," Mertens said.
"Especially this tight turning track, she was able to carry herself around it so well ... this track is going to suit horses like that, that make their own luck."
The $340,000 Magic Millions yearling jumped, led, dictated and sprinted clear in front of a throng of vocal owners, including Price-Kent Jr office manager Emma Shelley.
"I can't believe it, there's 70 ladies in this horse and Mick said during the week I'm not sure if she'll get the distance," Shelley said.
"Everyone is like, 'Do I jump on? What do I do?' and just before the jump I got on, so I was cheering even more, I can't believe it, just rapt for the team.
"There's some partners of Mick's long-time owners', there's a heap of my friends in her.
"Mick did an update when we first bought her at Magics and said, 'If you bought your husband a lawnmower get him to buy you a share in this racehorse!'"
Spicy Margs, who eased in betting to jump at $11 with TAB, burned the grass on Saturday.
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