Treasurethe Moment approaches historic Oaks double

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Treasurethe Moment sets her sights on an Oaks double

The Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) has taken all before her on the road to Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks, boasting a formidable record of eight wins from 10 starts, including her last seven in a row.

Now she sets her sights on being the first filly since Serenade Rose in 2006 —a daughter of Stravinsky (USA)—to complete the VRC Oaks–Australian Oaks double

Versatility has been the hallmark of her career. Last preparation, she claimed the G1 VRC Oaks over 2500 metres off a quick back-up. This time in, she launched her autumn with a gritty Group 2 win over 1400 metres, lumping a significant weight, before heading to Sydney to dominate the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000 metres on a Soft 7 surface that started the day rated Heavy.

Despite that emphatic Vinery win, regular rider Damian Lane believes there's more to come—especially if the track improves.

“She was a little inferior on that ground, she didn’t quite quicken as well as she normally would,” Lane told media this week.

“She’s just so honest and adaptable—she just gets the job done. Hopefully, looking at the forecast, we’re going to get better ground on Saturday, and she goes just as well. That’s all she needs to do, but she may even go a little better.”

Drawn nicely in barrier 2, the daughter of Alabama Express is well-positioned for success, and Lane believes the inside draw suits her natural racing style.

“He’s just managed her so well—to keep turning a horse out to win seven in a row shows what he can do as a trainer, and it’s great that she’s been able to showcase that for him,” Lane said.

“Hopefully, she’s got another dance left in her on Saturday.

“For her, low (barrier) is great because she’s got a bit of early speed and we can let her begin, and travel early, and then just weigh it up.”

While Treasurethe Moment deserves her status as the red-hot favourite, she won’t have it all her way in what looms as a deep edition of the race.

Kiwi filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), now with Chris Waller, brings a similarly impressive picket-fence formline and comes off a win in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. Her compatriot Dubai Goldrush (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), known as Dubai Gold in New Zealand, pushed her hard last time and has made the trip across the Tasman, seeking Group 1 glory.

Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) caught the eye late in the Vinery and shapes as a key improver. At the same time, Belle Detelle (Zed {NZ})—a three-quarter-sister to the champion Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ})—adds further intrigue by stepping up to 2400 metres after a last-start Group 3 victory.

Autumn Glow set to shine

Undefeated filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) will look to extend her perfect record when she lines up in Saturday’s $1 million G2 Arrowfield Sprint.

After being ruled out of last year’s G1 Flight Stakes due to injury the filly had to have an enforced break. The classy three-year-old showed that it did her no harm, as she made a sparkling return in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes on March 22 where she powered home to defeat Enriched (I Am Invincible), who is a rival once again on Saturday.

Now second-up and drawn in barrier 5 in a compact but high-quality field of eight, Autumn Glow again has James McDonald in the saddle, and the champion hoop is full of praise for the emerging star.

“Autumn Glow’s one of my most exciting rides on the day,” McDonald said to media earlier this week.

“She’s unbeaten and we hope to keep that record intact. I thought she was great first-up. She only does what she has to during a race, but when you ask for an effort, she picks up nicely.

“She’s a bit like her dad (The Autumn Sun). He had a big, loping stride and covered the ground so well. This filly is the same—she’s a super talent.”

The Arrowfield Sprint shapes as a pivotal race, with Autumn Glow facing off against Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life (Written Tycoon), who drops back to 1200 metres for the first time since finishing fifth in the G1 Sprint Classic at Flemington.

An upset hope could be the progressive Imperial Force (Snitzel), a Bjorn Baker-trained gelding stepping up in grade after back-to-back wins, and who brings strong momentum into his toughest test to date.

Can Dubai Honour keep his Australian record intact and hold Via Sistina at bay?

The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) has made a name for himself globally in a 29-start career that has taken him to six countries. But it is in Australia where he seems to go to another level. On Saturday, the world-travelled gelding will put his unbeaten Australian record on the line in the $5 million G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Since debuting on August 28, 2020, at Newmarket, Dubai Honour has 'danced every dance', with appearances in England, France, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia, and Germany. He’s scored nine wins—including four at Group 1 level—and earned just shy of $8.4 million in prizemoney.

In Australia, he has raced three times, all in Group 1 company, and won them all. That trio of victories includes the 2023 G1 Ranvet Stakes, 2023 G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and this year's G1 Tancred Stakes. While recent form has seen him dominate over 2400 metres, the drop back to 2000 metres on Saturday presents a different challenge.

Jockey Tom Marquand, who has forged a strong connection with the son of Pride Of Dubai, remains confident but cautious, acknowledging that the gelding’s preparation this year has been different.

He told Racing NSW earlier this week:

“Obviously went big the other day in the Tancred, interestingly thing this year obviously, we’ve sort of gone for a different preparation, he’s gone Tancred into Queen Elizabeth rather than Ranvet into Queen Elizabeth, which we’ve gone with great success with Addeybb and obviously him.

“He’s got the challenge of coming back to the 10 furlongs, which he’s not raced at for a while.

“He’s drawn out, hopefully that won’t be an inconvenience and it gives us a few options. I suppose any rain that does fall will be welcome.

“He’s in fantastic nick, Issy’s (Issy Paul) super happy with him, we’re sort of all systems go, and job’s on.”

The 2025 G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is shaping up as a blockbuster, with 11 of the 14 runners in the field already Group 1 winners.

The deserved favourite is the superstar mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), who arrives in red-hot form following Group 1 victories in both the Very Elleegant Stakes and the Ranvet Stakes.

Via Sistina will attempt to make history at Randwick on Saturday as a win would see the star mare draw comparisons with the legendary Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), joining her as the most prolific Group 1 winner in a single modern season.

In her unforgettable farewell campaign of 2018-19, Winx notched seven Group 1 victories—an elite-level haul Via Sistina is poised to equal this weekend if successful.

The chances don't stop there with the Japanese visitor Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) brings international intrigue, Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) comes off a win in the G1 Australian Cup over the same trip, and the ever-consistent Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) always demands respect.

Within The Law looking for a change of luck

The $1 million G2 Percy Sykes Stakes is shaping as a fascinating contest for the two-year-old fillies, with a diverse array of formlines converging on the lucrative juvenile feature.

One of the headline acts is Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}), a filly whose Golden Slipper tilt ended in unfortunate fashion when she struck the rail and dislodged jockey Jason Collett early in the race.

Despite the dramatic exit, the Bjorn Baker-trained filly came through the incident unscathed and has shown no ill effects. She bounced back with a strong second in a Rosehill trial on April 4, suggesting her confidence remains high.

Collett, who retains the ride, believes she was on track for a big run in the Slipper before the mishap.

“I think how the Slipper played out, she would have been in the top four or five finishing-wise,” Collett said to media during the week.

“Just from where she would have been on the track.

“We went down to the fence and she’s touched it—as happens in every race—but it was just the way she reacted.

“She started riding into the fence and went over it. Her reaction was pretty unexpected, but somehow she got out of that very well.

“She was good in her trial the other day—her confidence is high, she probably trialled the best she has.”

Within The Law brings strong credentials, having claimed the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes two starts back and looks well placed to bounce back on Saturday.

Among her key rivals is Memo (Capitalist), winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic who has been freshened specifically for this target. Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) was a brave third in the Golden Slipper and brings class to this event, but must overcome a wide barrier, although top hoop James McDonald is a major asset for that task.

Also in the mix is Inkaruna (I Am Invincible), a beautifully bred and consistent filly from the Anthony and Sam Freedman yard, who continues to progress with each outing.

Atishu chasing a 'Queen Of The Turf' farewell

Three-time Group 1 winner Atishu (Savabeel) is very familiar with the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes, winning the race in 2023 and then running a slightly unlucky second behind Zougotcha (Zoustar) last year.

On Saturday, she attempts to win the race again before well-deserved retirement and an appearance at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale next month. She is no doubt going to have plenty of admirers, being by Savabeel and out of the No Excuse Needed (GB) mare Posy (NZ), a sister to New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Daffodil (NZ).

Atishu hails from a family stacked with class, and her sire Savabeel’s record as a broodmare sire is already flourishing, with 35 stakes winners, including six Group 1 winners—Savatoxl (Kuroshio), Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}), Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), and Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci).

She has been a fantastic mare for connections, having won just over $5.8 million on the track and becoming an 11-time winner across New Zealand and Australia.

“It will be a day of mixed emotions with this being her swansong,” Go Racing General Manager Matt Allnutt told media earlier this week.

“It brings the curtain down on what has been a fantastic career. There have been a lot of friendships formed (within her syndicate), and we have all really enjoyed the ride.”

Atishu ran a very good fourth in the G1 Australian Cup at her last-start when she only peaked late after the 2000 metre race was run at a very strong pace, and the drop back to a mile looks perfect for the 7-year-old daughter of Savabeel.

“Nash rode her in this race two years ago when she won it. She drew barrier one on that day and she has drawn barrier two on Saturday,” Allnutt said.

“She loves the race, and she races well at Randwick. Chris (Waller, trainer) is more than happy with her, dropping back to the 1600 metres suits, and I think the race maps well for her.

“Fairytales do happen in racing, and let’s hope we see another one on Saturday.”

This year's Queen Of The Turf shapes as a strong and highly competitive edition, with several promising contenders set to do battle over the famous Randwick 1600 metres.

The one they all have to beat looks to be Fangirl (Sebring), who was brave last-start when narrowly beaten by Gringotts after being caught wide throughout in the G1 George Ryder Stakes. She deserves to be favourite and clearly sets the benchmark in this event.

Other challengers include last-start G1 Doncaster Mile victress Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard), who is backing up from that outstanding effort. Lazzura (Snitzel) the 3-year-old filly, gets in with a lightweight, and Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) could be the blowout chance—having won the G2 Emancipation Stakes at her last-start and her record includes four wins at Randwick.

Duke De Sessa steps into unknown distance territory

The talented Ciaron Maher-trained Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) heads into uncharted territory on Saturday as he lines up for the first time over the two-mile trip in the G1 Sydney Cup at Randwick.

A six-time winner with just under $4.3 million in prizemoney, Duke De Sessa has forged a strong reputation as a genuine top-tier stayer. However, the extended distance remains a new frontier. He makes up for what he lacks in two-mile experience in proven class and consistency.

He boasts a formidable 2400-metre record, with victories in the G1 Caulfield Cup, G3 Kilternan Stakes, and Listed Finale Stakes, along with an excellent last-start placing in the G1 Tancred Stakes at weight for age level.

Trainer Ciaron Maher is optimistic the two miles will suit the 6-year-old gelding and spoke to the Australian Turf Club earlier this week:

“This preparation has probably been his best yet, his target was the Tancred, which he ran very, very well, just beaten by Dubai Honour, who is an international superstar.

“He’s racing with a lot of enthusiasm and he was very strong on the line in the Tancred.

“At this stage we are looking to take him to the Sydney Cup, out to the two mile. I haven’t done that before with him; he races with a lot of tenacity, puts himself on speed, makes his own luck, and as I said, he hasn’t been out to that trip of two miles, but I think he will relish that.”

This year’s G1 Sydney Cup is shaping up to be a particularly even edition, with a host of genuine contenders.

The hardest to beat may be the in-form Alalcance (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, who comes in off three consecutive Stakes wins in Sydney over 2000 metres, 2400 metres, and 2600 metres.

Last year’s winner, Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}), is building nicely toward his target; Arapaho (Fr) returns having previously won the Tancred and was gallant last- start in this year's edition of that race, while Zardozi (Kingman {GB})—incredibly the only Australian-bred runner, although conceived in Great Britain among the 23 acceptors—adds further intrigue. She ran a gallant fourth in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup, is in form, and gets in well with just 53kg and a soft draw.