More Joyous: Cox Plate on her radar after breathtaking win at Randwick PICTURE: Liesl King/ThoroughbredNEWS.com.au Pin-up mare More Joyous strikes again
Report: Australia, Saturday
Randwick: Tabcorp Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f, 2yo+ turf
ANY DOUBTS over the ability of More Joyous (Gai Waterhouse/Nash Rawiller) to run 2000 metres were emphatically put to bed when she exploded away from a top-class field to add the Queen Elizabeth Stakes to her Doncaster Mile triumph.
On a day when Black Caviar scored her 20th win in Adelaide and both Pierro and Atlantic Jewel lived up to their hype at Randwick, More Joyous held up her end of the bargain as Sydney's pin-up mare.
In a field billed as worthy of a Cox Plate, Nash Rawiller took up the running aboard More Joyous. The mare travelled well but looked to be under siege when a host of rivals mounted challenges rounding the home turn.
However, Rawiller knew what he had underneath him and More Joyous ($3.20) went up a gear, accelerating clear to score by tw0 and a half lengths over the former Luca Cumani-trained Manighar ($6), with Secret Admirer ($13) running on strongly for third.
"How about the way he rode her," a jubilant Waterhouse said. "I didn't tell him anything, he just did it. He realised they'd probably all sit back and took control.
"The question was could she run the distance? Could she run the distance, she annihilated them. I just enjoy watching her. That was really special."
The only other time More Joyous had tackled 2000m was in the 2010 Cox Plate when she finished fifth to So You Think, who was at the peak of his powers.
Waterhouse has been trying to convince owner John Singleton to take More Joyous to Royal Ascot and the pair were in discussions about a possible trip to England after the Queen Elizabeth.
But it looks like More Joyous' victory has all but ruled an overseas trip with Singleton having eyes only for the Cox Plate. "The Cox Plate, I'll never have another chance like this," he said.
"The most prize-money is here and the most fun is here. I've taken three horses to Europe and they've never come back. She will go home tomorrow and come back in the spring. All the doubts about her running 2000 metres are gone."
Pierro: became the sixth winner of the juvenile triple crown
PICTURE: Liesl King/ThoroughbredNEWS.com.auAlso at Randwick on Saturday
Moet & Chandon Champagne Stake (Group 1) 1m, 2yo turf
Having already stitched up the title of the season's champion juvenile, Pierro (Gai Waterhouse/Nash Rawiller) has done the same to his Champagne Stakes rivals to claim the two-year-old triple crown.
Pierro became the sixth winner of the juvenile triple crown of the Golden Slipper, Sires' Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes and joined Baguette (1970) as an unbeaten winner of the title.
Sent out at $1.22 in Saturday's Champagne (1600m) at Randwick, Pierro travelled comfortably behind the leader Tatra ($151) around the home turn.
Once he straightened up the colt lengthened stride and strode to the front to the cheers of the crowd to go to the line tow and three-quarter lengths in front of the chasing Dear Demi ($19) with Tatra back in third.
"We have seen a colt write himself into history today," trainer Gai Waterhouse said. "He is outstanding and I am really privileged to get a horse like this. He is very special."
The colt's jockey Nash Rawillersaid Pierro continued to surprise him, especially as he stepped up in distance.
"He continues to raise the bar," he said. "Every time he steps out he surprises me a little bit more. He is something special."
Atlantic Jewel: became first filly since Valicare in 1926 to win the All Aged
PICTURE: Liesl King/ThoroughbredNEWS.com.aubredNEWSAll Aged Stakes(Group 1) 7f, 3yo+
Atlantic Jewel (Michael Rodd/Mark Kavanagh) was made to work harder than she ever has but showed her superstar qualities to become the first filly in 86 years to win the Group One All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
The unbeaten filly was sent out at Black Caviar-like odds of $1.12 and was forced to chase hard to run down Rain Affair ($7.50) in her first test at weight-for-age.
In doing so, Atlantic Jewel became the first filly since Valicare in 1926 to win the race and she will now be sent for a spell and aimed at the Cox Plate.
Sydney Cup(Group 1 handicap) 2m, 3yo+
A frustrating autumn for the Hawkes team was pushed into the background when former crock Niwot (Dwayne Dunn) produced the goods to beat Efficient and Once Were Wild in the gruelling Sydney Cup.
John Hawkes, who trains in partnership with sons Michael and Wayne, said the seven-year-old's Group 1 win was the more satisfying for the many problems he had endured.
Hawkes said: "He had 18 months off and the vets said he would never race again. His preparation for this was great though and hopefully we can get him to the Melbourne Cup again."
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