Maybe Discreet made a gleaming impression in her debut at the group I level April 27 at Morphettville, scoring a convincing 2 1/2-length triumph in the AUS$400,000 Schweppes Australasian Oaks.
The Oaks was one of two group I events on the card, preceded one race earlier by an upset by Platelet of multiple group winner Snitzerland in the AUS$400,000 Sporting Bet Classic Robert Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares.
Darley stallions sired both winners as Maybe Discreet is by Irish-based Shamardal and Platelet is by Strategic, who stands in Australia.
Ridden by Dom Tourneur, Maybe Discreet secured her victory at the top of the straight, kicking clear of 15 fillies to win going away from Grand Daughter. Both Maybe Discreet and her jockey enjoyed breakthrough group I victories.
Trained in South Australia by Phillip Stokes, the bay filly entered off a runner-up finish by a nose in the Schweppervescence Auraria Stakes (Aus-III) April 13 at Morphettville and was sent off at 13-2 odds in the Oaks. She was timed in 2:07.02 for 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) on turf rated as dead.
"We couldn't have had her any better and she proved it,'' Stokes told the Adelaide Now about Maybe Discreet. She has four wins and three second from 11 career starts, including respective back-to-back victories in the 2012 Veolia Morphettville Guineas in September at Morphettville and TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (Aus-II) in October at Flemington.
Group IIII winners Molto Bene and Alzora, the co-favorites at 5-1, finished seventh and 11th, respectively.
"She travelled and I knew she'd show a turn of foot," Stokes said. "It's a great thrill to train a winner for (breeder and co-owner) David Peacock and all the crew. He's a big supporter of our stable.''
Australian-bred Maybe Discreet is the ninth group I winner among 48 stakes winners for Shamardal, who stands at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland. She is out of the stakes-placed Bluebird mare Oh So Discreet, dam of Australian stakes winner Just Discreet and stakes-placed Always Discreet, who is group II-placed.
Snitzerland quickly took command in the Sangster, but the 8-5 favorite had nothing left when challenged at the 200-meter mark. She steadily lost ground to eventually finish seventh as Platelet stormed past en route to a three-quarter-length win from Angelic Light.
With Ben Melham at the reins for trainer Darren Weir, Platelet used a determined rally from midfield before the home turn and raced down the center of the track to take command at the 150-meter mark. She completed 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) in 1:11.04.
A consistent performer for Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Platelet has six wins, five seconds, and five thirds from 18 lifetime starts.
The 4-year-old filly came into the race off a close runner-up finish to Kulgrinda in the R. N. Irwin Stakes (Aus-III) April 13 at Morphettville. Kulgrinda finished fourth in the Sangster.
Platelet, who is out of the winning Dracula mare Bloodline, is the fourth group I winner among 26 stakes winners for Strategic, who will stand the Southern Hemisphere breeding season at Darley's Northwood Park in Victoria.
