Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Matt Laurie says he was lucky to be allocated a beautiful filly by Yulong Stud, but she was from her sire Alabama Express’s first crop, so there were plenty of unknowns on whether she would perform.
However, the Moorooduc conditioner was instantly impressed by Treasurethe Moment’s (Alabama Express) good looks and calm temperament, and he soon believed she would be capable of winning an elite race which he had spent many years pursuing.
Laurie achieved that goal when his 3-year-old back up to salute in the Group 1 Crown Oaks on November 7, after her equally-dominant victory in the G2 Wakeful S. just five days earlier.
Treasurethe Moment is now enjoying a spell after picking up four consecutive victories, already with $1,046,462 in career prizemoney from seven starts.
Treasurethe Moment clears away in the G1 Oaks | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Laurie will continue to dare to dream when she comes back from her break.
“It’s just nice to look back and know that we’ve won a feature during a big week,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“Who knows? There’s no reason to suggest she won’t get to those heights again when the time comes.
“Not so much (am I looking too far ahead), but we’d be going through the Autumn Carnival in Sydney targeting those races.”
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Laurie’s first instincts on the talented Yulong homebred were spot on.
“Fortunately, I was allocated her by Yulong, and she was a quality-looking horse when she walked in,” he said.
“At that stage, Alabama Express hadn’t had a runner, so you didn’t know what you were dealing with.
Alabama Express | Standing at Yulong
“But as a type, she was a very nice style of horse. To look at her without knowing her pedigree, you’d pencil her in as a mile to 2000-metre plus horse.
“... as a type, she (Treasurethe Moment) was a very nice style of horse. To look at her without knowing her pedigree, you’d pencil her in as a mile to 2000-metre plus horse.” - Matt Laurie
“She’s truly lived up to that. She’s a big, tall, leggy girl.”
After Treasurethe Moment’s Crown Oaks victory, an emotional Laurie – based at Moorooduc on the Mornington Peninsula – said that it took 20 years for a medium-sized stable like his to get into a position to compete for a G1 title.
And so, indeed, he truly treasured the moment.
“I’ve never had a filly that I’ve earmarked for an Oaks,” he said.
“In the past I had Se Sauver that we ran in the Thousand Guineas. That was a fair while ago (2013).
“But we haven’t had one like her come through the stables. They’re very rare for stables of our size.”
Flood survivor with loads of ability
In the Crown Oaks, Treasurethe Moment displayed a great mental ability to switch off at a high cruising speed before the turn for home.
She then responded to jockey Damian Lane’s urgings with a brilliant turn of foot to prevail by 1.25l in the staying feature for fillies over 2500 metres.
It was only in October 2022 when Treasurethe Moment survived some devastating floods at Nagambie’s Yulong Stud, in what was described as a once-in-200-year event.
Laurie said Treasurethe Moment has shown remarkable maturity since then, and he praised Yulong for the faith its staff have extended towards her sire, Alabama Express, and dam Draconic Treasure (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}).
“I hear they (Yulong) had those floods. I wasn’t aware of where she was situated on the farm,” he said.
“But it was a tough period for the staff and everyone involved. I think it made her a little bit more emotional. Yulong purchased Alabama Express and they supported him heavily.”
Draconic Treasure was a $320,000 purchase by BBA (Ireland) and Yulong Investments from Audley Farm Equine LLC at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“With their own mares, it just makes it that little more special. She’s five from seven, and two seconds to go with it, so she’s incredibly tough," Laurie said.
“It was an exciting prep and to culminate in a Group 1 was unbelievable. She’s certainly a horse that you feel could go on with it.”
“She’s (Treasurethe Moment) certainly a horse that you feel could go on with it.” - Matt Laurie
Draconic Treasure has so far produced one other winner, Mihoko Takeo (Grunt {NZ}).
Alabama Express now has three stakes winners, with a total of 19 winners from 49 runners, and a total of 111 named foals.
Trainer knew she'd back up in G1
Laurie said he had no reservations about backing up Treasurethe Moment in the Crown Oaks after her Wakeful S. triumph, particularly after riding her in trackwork.
“It’s obviously not something any trainer does that often. It’s a tried and tested formula which has worked many times before,” he said.
“With that in mind, we were happy. She had a couple of quiet days following the Wakeful, and I had ridden her on a couple of occasions leading into the Wakeful and the Oaks.
Treasurethe Moment clears away in the G2 Wakeful S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“And she felt beautiful. She was wonderfully sound and bright. There were no complaints whatsoever. She came through the Wakeful really well.”
Laurie said Treasurethe Moment showed her fighting qualities when she started her winning streak in a 3-year-old fillies Handicap race over 1400 metres at Sandown on September 28.
There, she beat the Dominic Sutton-trained Khadime (Star Turn) by an impressive 1.25lm.
She then defeated Danny O’Brien’s colt Acta Non Verba (Blue Point {Ire}) by 0.4l in a 3-year-old race over a mile at Caulfield on October 16, with Beau Mertens aboard on both occasions.
“From memory, she had to really dig deep (at Sandown). She came up on the leader on the inside rail, and I thought she was really strong on the line,” Laurie said.
“So that gave me confidence stepping up to the mile at Caulfield. And again, that was a tough win.
“She was under a bit of siege, and I thought she really responded under riding. That’s a trait you can’t train into them. They’ve got to have it.
“I wasn’t that sure that she really loves Caulfield, but I really loved the way she knuckled down and put her neck out to win the race.
“Following that, the way she pulled up I thought she’d be a lot more capable on a track like Flemington.”
