Merry Marshall scores Caulfield win for boss

Apprentice Taylor Marshall scored his first winner for his new boss Danny O'Brien with a terrific front-running ride aboard ultra-consistent mare Merriest at Caulfield on Saturday.

The win was the daughter of Denman's third at Caulfield in her career, which has netted $292,850 with four wins from 13 starts.

"I am over the moon to repay Mr O'Brien with a metro winner as he has been very supportive of me since I made the move from Sydney," Marshall said.

"To give me a chance on such a class horse is appreciated and she did a terrific job to lead all the way for the win," the young hoop said of the listed winning and Group 3 placed mare.

Merriest's colours are no stranger to the winner's stall at Caulfield as her owners Barry and Jan McRostie had great success with gun mare Miss Rose De Lago who won four races at The Heath for them and O'Brien, including the Group 3 Anniversary Vase.

"We have had a lot of luck for Barry and Jan here and hopefully we can continue with a few more wins yet," O'Brien said.

"I expect today will be the first of many winners for Taylor with us, and he is a very good up-and-coming rider. Merriest is a lovely horse and it was great to see her step out to 1400m and dominate the way she did today."

O'Brien said the four-year-old mare would step back into stakes class in a fortnight at her next start which will be on her home track at Flemington in a 1400m Group 2 mares event.

Pic by Racing Photos