Tivaci puts exclamation point on career with All Aged win

Report: Australia, Saturday

Randwick: All Aged Stakes (Group 1) 7f | turf | 2yo+

It's a parting gift that's hard to beat. Stud-bound Tivaci (Mike Moroney/Damien Oliver) snapped his Group 1 duck to win All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

In possibly his last start, Tivaci surged from near last to snatch the weight-for-age feature from Le Romain by a neck.

He defied a trend of Randwick winners on Saturday being on the speed as veteran jockey Damien Oliver produced an unflustered ride to boost his Group 1 collection to 110.

The four-year-old's previous best results in a Group 1 were minor placings in the Cantala Stakes and Toorak Handicap.

"It's terrific. He's been placed in a lot of Group 1s, he deserved to get one here," Moroney said.

"It's very timely because it's been widely speculated he's going to stud."

Moroney confirmed New Zealand's Waikato Stud beckons but Queensland's winter carnival might still be a possibility.

"We'll have a bit of a meeting now as to whether we race on or whether he goes now," he said."

After a promising fourth placing in the TJ Smith Stakes, Moroney was confident the All Aged Stakes could supply a coveted Group 1.

"I watched him on the course proper on Wednesday, and he galloped terrific. He was just glowing here today. I said to Ollie [Oliver] he's as relaxed as I've seen him."

Oliver, who won his first All Aged Stakes aboard Hurricane Sky in 1995, suggested Tivaci might warrant a trip north.

"He is an ideal sort of horse for those races [in Queensland], 1400 metres is a great trip for him," he said.

Also on Saturday

Randwick: Champagne Stakes (Group 1) 1m | turf | 2yo

The man who took Choisir to the world has claimed a Group 1 win with one of his sons in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

The Mission (Paul Perry/Damian Lane), an 8-1 shot, led for all of the 1600 metres to keep odds-on favourite Invader at bay by two and a quarter lengths.

Paul Perry took Choisir to Royal Ascot in 2003 where the colt made history by winning the two feature sprints, the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee.

His wins set the scene for more Australians to follow suit with Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Black Caviar all winners at the royal meeting.

The Mission may not get that far but his win was particularly satisfying for his Newcastle trainer who has some big spring goals in mind.

"I think he will be an ideal horse for races like the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas," Perry said.

"He was held up a bit in the Sires' Produce so the idea today was to go out in front.

"He is a horse who has always shown something. He didn't cost much [$32,500] but I just liked him when I saw him.

"He has been his own worst enemy at times but he is talented."