Rising star Marotiri Molly has defied the expectations of Matt Dixon already this season, and on Saturday at Trentham the Foxton trainer hopes she can continue that trend in the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m).

The late-developing daughter of Per Incanto broke maiden status as a five-year-old over 1200m, and there was a period of time where Dixon wondered if that would be her limit. 12 months down the track, Marotiri Molly had won three races in succession over 1400m, and in her first attempt in stakes company she came within a neck of La Crique in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1400m).

Her outstanding form line was capped off in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) on December 21 where the mare put a healthy margin on a strong field of horses, persuading Dixon and the Parlato’s (owners) to pay the late nomination into Saturday’s feature.

“She’s come through that run in great order, she’s had a pretty faultless prep over the past few weeks so I’m very happy with her,” Dixon said.

“It wasn’t really the plan earlier on, but the more she’s raced, the more she’s learned to settle, which she showed in her Pukekohe run and her last run. In the early days, we wondered if she’d even get 1400, but she’s learned to race a bit kinder.

“She’s been strong to the line and given an indication that she will see out the mile, so we are hopeful.”

The Thorndon Mile also slotted into the mare’s programme better than her other option, which would’ve been the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) on Karaka Millions Night (January 25).

“After her last win, it was going to be five weeks to the Westbury Classic,” Dixon said.

“She’d come through her last run so well and she loves Trentham, it’s nice and close to home. The three-week timeframe also worked out well, we went a month from Pukekohe into the Challenge Stakes and now a nice gap between this too.”

Marotiri Molly will be having just her 13th start on Saturday, and while Dixon had always rated her highly, even he couldn’t have predicted her rapid rise this term.

“She always showed a lot of natural speed, it was just a matter of her maturing into her frame,” he said. “She’s had a few growing pains along the way.

“She’s certainly had the ability, but you never expect to get to this point, 13 or 14 months ago she was just winning a maiden race.

“She’s come a very long way.”