Gai Waterhouse’s glamour mare More Joyous made it eight straight with a stunning win in the sixth race at Caulfield today, beating a quality field in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Starting the odds-on favourite, More Joyous ($2.40) in an historic run set the winning weight record for mares in the Toorak Handicap carrying a hefty 58kg to victory with Nash Rawiller in the mount.
The four-year-old daughter of More Than Ready jumped away evenly with the field from barrier 10, Spacecraft speeding away on the outside to take the lead.
More Joyous settled in fifth, while Spacecraft went to the rails and lead.
Held up in traffic, More Joyous looked in trouble mid-race having her first Victoria start following her eight consecutive wins in Sydney.
On the home turn Poor Judge and Spacecraft battled for the front, before More Joyous wound up, knuckled down and pushed through to snare the lead inside the 100m and claim a gritty, well-deserved victory.
At the line it was More Joyous a half length ahead of the Mark Kavanagh-trained We’re Gonna Rock ($12) with Poor Judge ($51) in a photo finish for third.
It was an arresting run by Toowoomba galloper Poor Judge who sat one out in second all the way, managing to hold on to finish in the money.
More Joyous was the third favourite in a row to claim Group victory at Caulfield today following Black Caviar’s win in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (Race 4) and So You Think’s breathtaking victory in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes (Race 5).
Waterhouse is now looking towards the 2010 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23 with more confidence, where More Joyous will come head-to-head with So You Think.
Today’s Toorak Handicap success was More Joyous’ 10th victory from 13 career starts, her second Group 1 in a row following her last start win in the George Main Stakes.
The next race on the card today is the marquee event, Race 7 the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), due to jump at 4:00pm (AEDST).
Currently Ilovethiscity is the odds-on favourite in the Caulfield Guineas betting markets, but there’s a number of top chances to cause an upset including Toorak Toff.
So get your favourites at a better price than the TAB by betting at [sportsbet] now!
2010 Toorak Handicap Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | MORE JOYOUS(10) | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse | 58.0 | 1-36.40 |
| 2nd | 15 | WE’RE GONNA ROCK(6) | Michael Rodd | Mark Kavanagh | 53.5 | 0.4L |
| 3rd | 8 | POOR JUDGE(15) | Darren Gauci | Norm Hilton | 55.0 | 0.8L |
| 4th | 6 | LUEN YAT FOREVER(2) | Dwayne Dunn | Pou Choi | 55.5 | 0.9L |
| 5th | 5 | KIDNAPPED(1) | Craig Newitt | Peter Snowden | 55.5 | 1.4L |
| 6th | 12 | AVIENUS(5) | Glen Boss | Mark Webb | 53.0 | 1.6L |
| 7th | 4 | GOLD SALUTE(12) | Mark Pegus | Mark Riley | 55.5 | 1.7L |
| 8th | 7 | SPACECRAFT(13) | Damien Oliver | Mick Price | 55.5 | 1.8L |
| 9th | 9 | CHASM(14) | Brad Rawiller | Heath Conners | 54.5 | 2.2L |
| 10th | 3 | LA ROCKET(9) | Stephen Baster | Dale Sutton | 56.0 | 2.3L |
| 11th | 13 | GHOSTMILK(3) | Luke Nolen | Peter G Moody | 53.0 | 3.3L |
| 12th | 2 | DRUMBEATS(7) | Mark Zahra | Peter Snowden | 56.0 | 4.3L |
| 13th | 10 | RESPONSE(11) | Craig Williams | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 54.5 | 4.7L |
| 14th | 11 | ALLEZ WONDER(8) | Michelle Payne | Bart Cummings | 53.5 | 7.7L |
| 15th | 14 | NO JURISDICTION(4) | James Winks | Danny O’Brien | 53.0 | 7.9L |
