Cascaye casts her spell for little-known sire in mares' novice hurdle

Cascaye managed to overturn the 1/10 favourite Little Miss Poet in the opening race at Exeter on Friday, to land a first victory in Britain for her little-known sire Merlino Mago.

Merlino Mago, a 23-year-old son of Mtoto - who is also the sire of Presenting - was trained by Cinzia Mazzoni in Italy, and finished second in a Grade 1 chase over 3m1f in Milan.

He has only had a handful of winners in France to date including A Moi Le Mago and Belle Josee.

Cascaye got off the mark at the fifth time of asking, having hit the frame on her penultimate outing over hurdles and having also finished second in a bumper.

Her racing career got off to an inauspicious start, however, as she ran out and unseated her rider on debut in a Uttoxeter bumper.

Bred by Francois Maillot, the five-year-old Cascaye is out of the unraced Anabaa mare Castyana, who has also produced the Listed-placed hurdler Grey Knight, Bettyboop Du Pouey, a year-older sister to Cascaye who was placed in France, and the unplaced Chandaka.

Castyana is one of four winners out of Castiya, a Listed winner over 7f.