Trainer Jarrod Austin confident despite Alan Brown Stakes presenting firmer test for Terra Mater

Terra Mater is already one of the best horses Jarrod Austin has trained but his bombproof mare could cement herself at the top in the Alan Brown Stakes.

Terra Mater is already one of the best horses Jarrod Austin has trained but his bombproof mare could cement herself at the top in Saturday’s $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

The daughter of Wandjina has been a revelation for Austin in recent times and has proven to be a winning machine over the past 12 months with six victories in her past nine starts.

She snared Austin a maiden Group 3 last start in the Tibbie Stakes, with the Warwick Farm trainer now preparing to chase her biggest win to date.

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“Her performances have put herself right at the top of the tree of horses I’ve had at the moment,” Austin said.

“We had a lovely colt back in the day called Urquidez that ran second to Rebel Dane one day (in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign) and I thought he was probably the best horse I’ve had.

“She has come out and performed and won some better races than what he ended up doing because he went to Hong Kong.

“She’s right up there.”

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Terra Mater broke her maiden at Bathurst in May last year and Austin has done a terrific job placing her since.

She put together a hat-trick of wins over the summer months before returning in the autumn to claim a Provincial-Midway Championships heat in April.

This campaign she’s gone up another gear, putting together back-to-back stakes victories in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong and then the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle.

“Each preparation she has come back, she has just improved,” Austin said.

“When she won that race at Hawkesbury I thought we can get this filly into city grade now and then she won three in a row in town for us.

“I thought OK, now we have to look at getting black type, that will be our next goal and she has ticked that off quite easily.

“I thought both her wins she had something left in hand and each prep she has improved.”

Terra Mater is an absolute ripper! She claims back-to-back black-type races for @JarrodAustin6 under a brilliant ride from @nashhot in the Tibbie Stakes at @newcastleraces_ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/he5Y2ZIRHH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 20, 2024

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Austin acknowledged the Alan Brown Stakes would be Terra Mater’s toughest test to date but he was adamant she would be up to the challenge.

“Everything has gone to plan leading into the race,” Austin said.

“This is by far the biggest challenge we’ve thrown at her. She is out of fillies and mares grade now and has to come up against the boys.

“It’s a strong race but she has earned her chance and I do think she’s up to it.

“I am not confident that we will win but certainly believe we are one of the chances.”

A 55kg weight forced Austin into a jockey change with regular hoop Nash Rawiller unable to continue his formidable partnership with Terra Mater.

Regan Bayliss will take over the riding duties.

Terra Mater has been $15 out to $19 to win the Alan Brown Stakes with Austin hoping the race was the first of two big money targets for his mare.

“We would like to get to The Invitation,” Austin said.

“We have to see how she will perform against these sort of horses but if she perform the way we are expecting and hoping, that will be the goal for sure.”

Originally published as Trainer Jarrod Austin confident despite Alan Brown Stakes presenting firmer test for Terra Mater