No Fluke About Delightful Peg’s Group Success

By Rob Courtney

At $37 on the tote, Delightful Peg may have looked like a long shot in this year’s Group 2 Southland Oaks at Ascot Park, Invercargill — but those who know her bloodlines won’t be calling it a fluke.

The Bettor’s Delight filly was snapped up for $20,000 at the 2023 Christchurch Yearling Sales by Jenny Knight — mother-in-law of trainer Brad Mowbray — after being offered by her West Melton breeder and trainer, Tony Barron.

Out of Elite Medley (Live Or Die), herself a 1:57.8 miler with a win from just five starts, ‘Peg’ is the mare’s fourth live foal and now easily her most successful. Prior to Delightful Peg, Elite Medley had produced Mary Austin (4 wins, 1:57.3) and Major Medley (1 win to date) — both honest performers, if not spectacular.

Since the Oaks winner’s emergence, Elite Medley has changed hands and produced a filly by Always B Miki, one by American Ideal, and a two-year-old colt by Downbytheseaside. Based on what they’ve seen from ‘Peg’, the Mowbrays have since returned to purchase her Always B Miki half-sister — an early sign the family is again on the rise.

Delightful Peg and Matty Williamson power to G2 victory in the Southland Oaks

But it’s when you dive into Delightful Peg’s deeper pedigree that things really start to stand out.

Her dam Elite Medley is one of nine foals out of Ok Medley (OK Bye), and all nine made it to the races — with six becoming winners. The most accomplished of the bunch was Winnies Mak (18 wins, NZ & USA, $152,000, 1:50.6), a sub-1:51 flyer who showed her class on both sides of the Tasman. Others like Medley Moose (10 wins) and Winnies Central (11 wins) kept the family firmly in the winners’ circle.

DELIGHTFUL PEG | SOUTHLAND OAKS REPLAY

Even Gabriel Marie, a non-winner by Bettor’s Delight, produced the talented Tommy Waterhouse (7 wins, $90,000), underlining the depth and durability of the line.

Ok Medley, in turn, descends from the exceptional broodmare Port Medley (Meddlesome–Bret Hanover), whose record is simply remarkable: 15 live foals, all 15 raced, 12 were winners. Together, the second and third dams of Delightful Peg produced 24 live foals — and every single one qualified. That kind of production is exceedingly rare in any breed.

Port Medley’s breeding career was deservedly recognised with a Broodmare Excellence Award in the 2005/06 season — and for good reason. Raced by the late Peter Marshall and trained by the Barrons (Clark and Tony), her progeny included:

– Bo Scots Medley (6 wins)
– Michael’s Medley (7 wins)
– Deadly Medley (4 wins)
– Falcon’s Medley (16 wins, $187,000)
– Lively Medley (20 wins, $130,000)
– Holme Medley, Rocking Medley, and Badlands Medley — all exported and clocking 1:54 or better in North America

Both Falcon’s Medley and Lively Medley found further success when sold to Perth to extend their racing careers, a testament to the family’s long-standing commercial appeal. Not surprisingly, Port Medley’s residency at Nevele R meant the family was largely built on Nevele R sires — a tradition Peter Marshall carried on when he began breeding from Ok Medley in 2001.

Now the winner of three races from 18 starts and over $56,000 in stakes, Delightful Peg looks well poised to continue adding to that legacy — especially with a black-type victory already secured.

The Knight-Mowbray partnership are the beneficiaries of both patience and pedigree. And next time ‘Peg’ lines up, don’t expect the bookmakers — or the punters — to underestimate her.

After all, when you come from a family like that, winning is very much in the blood