The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained Eneeza ran up to form presenting fit fourth-up to salute with a good win over the beaten Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot in the 2024 Percy Sykes Stakes results.

2024 Percy Sykes Stakes winner Eneeza. Photo: Steve Hart.

The sole two fillies backing-up out of the Golden Slipper ran one-two in Randwick’s Group 2 $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) with Exceed And Excel filly Eneeza able to turn the tables.

She was seventh when 2.7 lengths off Lady Of Camelot at 60/1 in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds but relished a four kilogram swing in the weights today.

Eneeza ($10) had a tough run from barrier 14 of 16 in the Golden Slipper, which followed her eye-catching Blue Diamond fourth in Melbourne, but she got a better run today from barrier six with Damian Lane giving her a peach of a ride.

“She didn’t have a lot of luck in the Slipper from a bad draw and that was a nice consolation,” co-trainer Peter Moody told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory.

“She’s probably been luckless this entire prep. She’s a gallant little filly and congratulations to Kia Ora and TF Investments for their patience, basically, after those unlucky runs.

“We probably brought ourselves undone in the Blue Diamond riding her a bit close but a lovely ride by Damian today and reward for effort.

“If we couldn’t win the big ones we’ll take home a group two.

“She’s got an unbelievable attitude. Sarah and the team at Aquis from the day that they had her have done a wonderful job. She’s got an unbelievable attitude towards her workload.

“She’s a natural two-year-old and she’s not going to lose her ability. Can she improve? That is arguable but you’ve got to hope that the immature ones don’t catch up and overtake you – that is the key.

“I’m not a believer in two-year-olds losing form. The immature ones mature and got past you.

“She’s very professional and that will take her a long way going forward.”

The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained favourite Lady Of Camelot ($3.80F) had to carry 59kg from a wide alley and, having taken a sit three-wide off the speed throughout, presented well over the final furlong.

She had her chance and made late ground in a nice performance, but just couldn’t get to Eneeza who had saved ground coming up the fence to charge home and salute by three-quarters of a length.

In a photo for third, Ciaron Maher’s last start Group 2 winner Erno’s Cube ($21) was good again to complete the trifecta at a big price.

Looking ahead, Moody named the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at the end of the year as a likely long-range target for Eneeza.

“She’s not a big filly but she just thrives on it and handles it so well. She’s covered a lot of miles, this is her second run in Sydney and her sixth run as a two-year-old filly so she is unbelievably resilient and I think she has a well-earned rest and see what she can develop into in the spring,” he said. 

“A nice little three-year-old sprinting filly can hopefully develop into a Coolmore horse.”

2024 Percy Sykes Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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