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Rooks Nest takes out Falcon Stakes at Chukyo on Saturday

Former Arrowfield Stud-based shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) chalked up his third stakes winner on Saturday when Rooks Nest (3 c ex Villa by Deep Impact) landed the Falcon Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Chukyo. 

Last seen finishing second in the Nikkan Sports Sho Shinzan Kinen (Gr 3, 1600m), the three-year-old got his head in front at stakes level when he beat Grenadier Guards (Frankel) by a head, while Mondreise (Daiwa Major) was another two and a half lengths away in third. 

Rooks Nest is the second winner out of placed Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) mare Villa, who is herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Summitville (Grand Lodge). 

Further back this is the same pedigree as Group 2 winner Raffelberger (Auenadler) and Listed-winning duo Raptor (Auenadler) and Royal Mary (Monsun). 

Maurice’s total winner count stands at 49 and Rooks Nest joins Grade 2 scorer Shigeru Pink Ruby and Grade 3 winner Pixie Knight as the stallion’s other stakes winners. 

The Shadai Stallion Station-based Maurice stood at Arrowfield Stud for three seasons, but due to coronavirus the son of Screen Hero (Grass Wonder) did not return to the Hunter Valley stud last season. 

The stallion has four lots catalogued at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, which gets underway in Sydney on April 6.

Thriller!

3c 1. ROOKS NEST (Maurice x Villa (Deep Impact)) narrowly won G3 1400m Falcon Stakes at Chukyo under Hideaki Miyuki from 3c 4. GRENADIER GUARDS (Frankel x Wavell Avenue (Harlington))

Swift 1.20.1 for 1400m#MAURICE#subscriber pic.twitter.com/RUJXFA8mDm

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) March 20, 2021