Maybe you could call it a no-brainer but Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp feels Mensa Maestro could prove to be more than a handy horse after a strong win at Ipswich racetrack.

Having his second start in a race, Mensa Maestro ($4.40) powered to the lead from a wide barrier and just kept going to win the River 949FM Maiden Plate (1200m) by two lengths.

Favourite Canny Cat ($3.90) was second, one and three quarters of a length ahead of Matilda Gene ($7) in third place.

Why Mensa Maestro? Because his dam is called Intellectuals. 

“He’s a great big horse, 17 hands high,” Kemp said last Thursday.

“He’s a big horse by Star Turn and the owners are really good people. I’ve had a couple of horses for them in the past and it’s really nice to see them get a good win and hopefully he can go on.”

Owner Allan Stanton only had to pay $5000 to secure him at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.

“He could have one that could go on,” Kemp said. “He’s only a baby; he’s just turned three.”

Jockey Matt McGillivray told stewards after the race it was not his intention to lead.

But after beginning well and being caught wide he elected to allow his mount to stride forward due to the slow early pace and race outside the leader from the 700m.

“There just wasn’t enough speed for him early. He was pulling so he just took him up to the lead,” Kemp said.

At his first start on July 17 in Toowoomba, Mensa Maestro was a bit slow away and seemed lost for a while but ran on well from the home turn to run fourth.