THE MAC IS BACK

It would surely rate as one of the greatest comebacks in recent turf history … Mic Mac’s victory in Saturday’s Civic Stakes – his first win in nearly four years – was a triumph for persistence over adversity on so many counts.

It would have been easier for Paul Messara and connections to pull up stumps, particularly when you consider Mic Mac was on the sidelines for at least two and a half years, but they clearly knew the old boy had something left to offer.

And for Mic Mac’s sire, Statue of Liberty, it was yet another plus for the resume: particularly in regards to his versatility.

Off the scene for a couple of seasons, Statue Of Liberty’s ‘new beginning’ has seen a host of 2YO winners in 2012-13, including Octane Flyer, Miss Steele and last week’s city winner Miss Sante Fe. And now the 7YO, Mic Mac adds the icing!

Just imagine if Hay List returns with a vengeance in the ambitious spring program laid out for him?

TVN’s Carl Di Iorio was hand for Mic Mac’s memorable return …

Multiple Group Two winner Mic Mac scored his first win since recovering from a career-threatening injury at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trained by Paul Messara and ridden by Christian Reith, Mic Mac led throughout to win the $100,000 Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) by a length with Under The Sun and Said Com filling the minor placings.

“It’s been a huge effort by Paul (Messara) to get him back from a broken leg which occurred in The Galaxy 15 months ago (April 2012),” said Messara’s assistant trainer Barry Wintle.

“He has got that will to win and doesn’t want to retire. He is just an old bulldog.

“Three years ago he nearly won the Stradbroke Handicap (Mic Mac finished third behind Black Piranha in 2010).

“It’s great to see an old war horse like him come back and win like that. It stirs up the emotions.

“Credit goes to all the staff and also to Christian (Reith) who came out and said to us pre-race that he wanted to go forward and take the race by the scruff of the neck, which he did. It’s just fantastic.”

Mic Mac showed he still had a zest for racing at his previous start when fourth in the Listed June Stakes (1200m) behind She’s Clean at Randwick on June 8.

Mic Mac has raced 23 times for eight wins and four placings with prizemoney now standing at $926,438. The win was his fourth in stakes company, and first whilst in the care of Messara.

Mic Mac was formerly trained by Greg Eurell and he prepared the son of Statue of Liberty to win the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Listed Aurie’s Star (1200m) and Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) all in 2009.

Mic Mac - photo by Bradley Photographers