From floodwaters to Oaks winner: Treasurethe Moment's day of dominance

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A brilliant Oaks victory on centre stage

It is only the best horses who don’t show any signs of stress backing up on a short turnaround, and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) showed there is not much that can faze her with a seamless victory in the $1 million G1 Crown Oaks.

Just five days since she saluted in the G2 Wakeful S. on Victoria Derby Day, the 3-year-old filly produced a masterful performance to prevail by 1.25l in Thursday’s staying feature over 2500 metres.

With star jockey Damian Lane aboard for Matt Laurie, Treasurethe Moment switched off with ease and was effortless before the turn for home, before responding to Lane’s urgings with a brilliant turn of foot which saw her notch up her fourth consecutive win. In second was John Sargent-trained Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) with Danny O’Brien trained Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) making up for her fractious behaviour on Saturday with a solid third placing. Waikato Stud will be pleased to see their stalwart sire and G1 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (NZ) with two Group 1-placed fillies whose careers should go on from here.

Treasurethe Moment now has five victories from seven starts, with over $1 million in career prizemoney.

Treasurethe Moment’s ability to relax under pressure belies her young age, but testament to her strength after surviving the floods at Nagambie’s Yulong Stud two years ago.

Indeed, connections are treasuring every moment of their filly’s winning run after she was part of the crop that had a challenging start in the floods that hit Nagambie in 2022, and the 3-year-old seems to as well, given how much she thrives on big races.

“It's incredible,” Laurie said. “It is 20 years of work really trying to achieve something like this. I'm just so grateful to my team at home and to Team Yulong. They are great for the industry and to have them in my corner with this, a homebred, and to watch her progress to win a Group 1, is incredible.

“I feel very privileged.”

A homebred for Yulong Investments, Treasurethe Moment is the third foal from Draconic Treasure (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), who was purchased at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for US$320,000 (AU$488,000) by BBA (Ireland) and Yulong.

A winner at 1650 metres in her home country, she is a half-sister to Listed-placed Glowsity (USA) (Bodemeister {USA}) and Hazy Morning (USA) (Curlin {USA}), dam of dual Listed winner Bella Mia (Per) (Yazamaan {GB}). The family features 2003 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle (USA) (Theatrical {USA}). Treasurethe Moment is the last foal from her dam, who passed away in 2022 while in foal to Written Tycoon.

Laurie was confident Treasurethe Moment could back up after her Wakeful S. triumph last Saturday. “I thought her win at Sandown three back was very tough and I didn't have too many questions about her reaching 2000 metres,” he said.

“She answered that pretty heavily over the weekend, and we were hoping that she would be able to slot in and Damian managed that perfectly. I was starting to get very hot and nervous before the race, but it was a painless watch really. It was almost a replica of the weekend, just an extra 500 metres tacked on at the end.”

Thursday’s win added considerable value to Treasurethe Moment’s breeding future, and it gave Yulong rising young stallion Alabama Express his first Group 1 triumph as a sire.

“She is a beauty. Just kept improving this preparation. Matt said to me before I rode her last start, he thought that she was a really good horse in the making. She has proved them right. She is a bloody ripper,” Lane said.

The jockey completed the same Wakeful/Oaks double on Aristia (Lonhro) in 2018.

“She actually gave me a very similar feel to Aristia on Saturday, but hopefully she can go on with it a little more. She is a beauty and has just kept improving this preparation.”

Alabama Express now has three stakes winners from his first crop of 110 foals, with Treasurethe Moment lifting his record into the top echelon. He is also sire of Group 2 winning 3-year-old filly Alabama Lass, who is favoured to win New Zealand’s G1 1000 Guineas soon.

Alabama Express has begun well with his second crop, already siring 2-year-old winner Strideaway in Perth last week.

Zousain adds second stakes winner

Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald combined to win the G3 Red Roses S. with 3-year-old filly Amelita (Zousain) on Thursday. Wearing the colours made famous by Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Amelita sat quietly at the back of the group of 3-year-old fillies sprinting down the Flemington straight in the 1100-metre contest. McDonald gathered her up and they worked through traffic to hit the lead with 50 metres to spare in a sustained run. Amelita won by 0.75l from Clinton McDonald trained Vestas (Toronado {Ire}) with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Bridal Waltz (Snitzel) in third.

“It looks like it could be a little bit better out wider. Whether it is wind related, I think more than anything. He (McDonald) made a beeline straight for it after the jump to get himself set out wider, then had to aim towards a few gaps,” said Waller.

“We drew barrier one on the furthest part of the track and James said to be pre-race, ‘I think it is better out wider and I’m going to try and come across’. He did exactly what he said. Found his way through. Fortunately he had the horse under him to take those gaps. A little bit of buffering with 100 (metres) to go and she was too strong. Dug deep.”

Waller trained Amelita’s sire Zousain, who ran second in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. down this straight, and grandsire Zoustar, who won the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“There was enough confidence to down come here with her and pick up a nice race to up her value and most importantly to give her some confidence. We see her as a nice filly going forward by Zousain who I trained - a son of Zoustar. It is a bit of a family affair.”

Amelita was purchased by a group of people including Magic Bloodstock, Julia Ritchie, and Noel and Marie Greenhalgh at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $280,000 from Edinglassie Stud. Amelita is the first foal of winning mare Miss Amelia (More Than Ready {USA}) who is a daughter of the very speedy filly Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice) who won the G2 Silver Slipper S. Amelia’s Dream has produced eight winners including two stakes placed winners in Impasse (Sepoy) and Better Land (Shamardal {USA}).

Way To The Stars wins up the straight in Listed Century S.

The field for the Listed Century S. over 1000 metres up the Flemington straight split into two groups with the outside rail group getting the jump on the inner group. Matthew Smith-trained 6-year-old gelding Way To The Stars (Reward For Effort) flew home along the rail nearest the crowd to salute by 0.75l from Godolphin’s Spacewalk (Exosphere) in a themed quinella giving the twice-a-year punters who bet on names a tidy result.

“He jumped well. I think it was a bonus for him being drawn out. Plan was to sort of go four off the outside fence. Get him into his comfort zone. He is a real speed horse. Tends to overdo it himself. It was a master class bringing him down here for this race. He has always promised a lot, not that he’s delivered and today he was right back to his old self,” said jockey Nash Rawiller.

“He’s a hard going horse and if you get him into his own rhythm. He got into his own rhythm. He really extended well. From day one he has shown signs that he could be up there with class sprinters. On his day he can be, especially over 1000 metres. He is still learning his craft. He still does a bit wrong. He duked in under me and made it awkward for us over the last 100 metres. He’s a horse I’ve got a lot of time for and I’m sure I’ll win a good race on him one day.”

A length covered the next few with Ciaron Maher trained Recommendation (Shalaa {Ire}) getting the nod for third. They ran the 1000 metres in 0:56.87 on a Good surface. Way To The Stars ran seventh in the G2 Caulfield Sprint at his start leading into Thursday’s win.

“That was a good solid effort there today. Nash gets on with him really well and he rode a really good race on him today,” said Smith.

“I thought this would be the last run for the prep. He’s had a few runs now but he’s actually stood up really well through the prep. He’s getting a bit older and a bit more seasoned and he’s putting his runs together now. He’s a bit more consistent.

“It's nice when you get a jockey that likes the horse, they want to ride him and it' s great to get the win here today. We got on the wrong side of it lately in the last couple of runs where we haven’t got to the outside of horses and I think drawing out with this horse, particularly, because he gets out there on his own, he bowls along and I think it was a braw for us, really. It won us the race, I think.

“Nash is on board saying to me he should be winning stakes races. I thought I’d give him a shot at it today.”

Placed in the G3 Concorde S. earlier this season, the win was the first black type score for Way To The Stars who now has seven wins and five placings from 22 starts with earnings over $500,000. He becomes the 12th stakes winner for Reward For Effort and the sixth for Written Tycoon as a broodmare sire.

Way To The Stars is the third foal and second winner for Writteninthestars (Written Tycoon) who won three races, all in Sydney. Way To The Stars shares a third dam with Horse Of The Year Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) but is the first stakes winner in his branch of the family.

It’s all about the one percenters for Light Infantry Man

Imported 6-year-old gelding Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) hadn’t won since October 2021, but on Thursday, he put it together with a 2.25l win in the Listed Chester Manifold S.

“Little things. Behavioural things. Feeding, little one-percenters,” said trainer Ciaron Maher when asked what had been the reasons behind the change in form. Punters weren’t so easily puzzled, as they’d sent the gelding around as a $4.80 second favourite.

“When the race was unfolding, I said ‘we’ve got a good horse (and) we’ve got the best jockey riding it’, and I just hoped I’d done my job and the horse would run well. Fortunately the team have done a good job. He hasn’t really scaled to the heights we expected but he’s on the right path now.

“He’s a really good horse and we probably haven’t done him justice yet. He had really good European form but his last run was very encouraging. Great ride by James (McDonald). The Flemington carnival is awesome.”

Unbeaten in two starts in England as a 2-year-old, he added the G3 Horris Hill S. at only his second start. At three, he was set on a Classic path, running ninth in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket first up, then sent to France, he added two Group 1 seconds in the G1 Prix Jean Prat and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, the latter behind champion mare Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Light Infantry Man’s first Australian target was the 2022 Golden Eagle in a hit and run mission where he ran sixth. A further six starts in Europe netted a few more Group 1 placings, and then he was purchased by Australian interests that include Col McKenna’s Halo Racing and Ozzie Kheir and Yes Bloodstock among others.

After running 11th in Fangirl (Sebring)’s G1 King Charles III S. in 2023, Light Infantry Man had a long break, and wasn’t seen again until he ran seventh in the 2024 Listed Scone Cup eight months later. Eleventh in the G2 Q22, he had another break, and this spring has a formline of 697 with a last start seventh in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile.

“He has terrific form overseas in Europe. He’s just lost his way a little bit. Hopefully that gives him a bit of confidence. He can kick on from there because we know how talented he is. Some really good friends of mine are in the horse - Johnny, Brae, all the crew, Ozzie Kheir so a bloody good result,” said McDonald.

“He was very energetic and very hypo but, I’ll tell you what, they’ve done a good job with him. When I rode him back in Sydney he was slow away and didn’t want to take part in the trial. Whatever they have done with the barriers has worked because he was enthusiastic away and got into a lovely rhythm.”

The Chester Manifold was his second stakes win, and he is one of 25 stakes winners for his sire, Fast Company (Ire), who was a group winner at two for his sire Danehill Dancer (Ire). Light Infantry Man is a son of Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) who won four races in Germany and Austria, and his dam is a half-sister to Listed winner Choose Your Moment (Ire) (Choisir). G1 Melbourne Cup winner Americain (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) is also in this family.

Big Dance winner returns with Listed Hawkesbury Ladies Day Cup win

Adding the blinkers turned around the form line for Kris Lees-trained 7-year-old gelding Rustic Steel (Deep Field) as he won the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury. Coming off a last start 14th in the $1.5 million Alan Brown S., Rustic Steel showed a bit more urgency at Hawkesbury for jockey Josh Parr. He trailed the leaders then pounced to win by 0.93l from leader Nathan Doyle trained 8-year-old gelding Bandersnatch (Casino Prince). Rounding out the minor placings was Ciaron Maher trained import 6-year-old gelding Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“It was a really nice ride from Josh Parr. He put him in a really nice position in the early stages,” Lees’ stable representative Danny Greer said.

“With Kris putting the blinkers back on, he showed a bit more toe early and put himself in a nice spot. We were quietly confident leading into this. His work has been really good at back home and we can't fault him in anything like that and he had no luck last start at Rosehill.”

Parr has now won the Listed Ladies Day Cup four times with Tromso (Lonhro) in 2013, Strawberry Boy (Redoute’s Choice) in 2014, and New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in 2023. “I think the class was a big part of his victory here today, and obviously the great gear change with the blinkers going back on. We landed in a perfect position, and he showed a really good turn of foot when I let him loose. He showed a bit of ticker too to hold off his rivals,” said Parr.

Winner of 10 of his 29 starts and over $2 million, Rustic Steel’s previous wins include the 2022 Big Dance, the 2024 G3 Newcastle Newmarket H., and the 2022 Listed Scone Cup. One of 36 stakes winners for Deep Field, whose fertility issues are a great loss to racing, Rustic Steel was a $500,000 purchase by Tasman Bloodstock from Newgate Farm’s 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft.

Beautifully bred, Rustic Steel’s dam Ten Carat Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is an unraced half-sister to Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors, and a full sister to G3 San Domenico S. winner Sliding Cube, who is the dam of Rubick. Ten Carat Rock has produced five winners from as many to race, and her first foal, unraced mare Our Girl Racquie (Fastnet Rock) is the dam of this season’s 3-year-old G3 Caulfield Classic winner Kingofwallstreet (Dundeel {NZ}) who ran fourth in the G1 Victoria Derby on Saturday.

Ten Carat Rock has an unraced 2-year-old colt I Am Carrot (Castelvecchio) but she missed the next year so has no yearling. She recently foaled a Capitalist colt.

Stanbridge continues Mishani success with juveniles

Donna Stanbridge, the new trainer for Mike Crooks, has continued in the same vein as Les Ross by producing several juveniles ready to take on the pre-Christmas races. The stable had three runners in Thursday’s QTIS 2YO Mdn Plate over 800 metres at Ipswich, and it was filly Mishani Quest (The Mission) who won by 0.72l from Michael Nolan-trained Shemakesmenervous (Power {GB}), with Stanbridge-trained filly Mishani Treasure (The Mission) in third.

Ridden by Rikki Jamieson, Mishani Quest hugged the rail like a professional and galloped clear from Shemakesmenervous, who stuck to her tail well. The rest of the field were 2.5l further back.

The Mission, a son of Choisir, won the G1 Champagne S., and he’s done well for the Mishani team with six of his 44 winners carrying the Mishani tag.

Bred by Mishani Enterprises, Mishani Quest is the fourth named foal, and third winner, for Maggiore (Nicconi) who won twice at three and four. Mishani Quest’s year older brother Mishani Hercules ran fourth in the Listed Phelan Ready S. last season.

Pedigree enthusiasts have to go back to Maggiore’s fourth dam, G3 Launceston Cup winner Summer Fleur (NZ) (Sovereign Edition {Ire}) to find a black type winner. Summer Fleur produced dual Group 1 winner Empire Rose (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and her winning half-sister Summer Fling (NZ) (Otehi Bay) is Maggiore’s third dam.