CAUL OCT 09 - MORE JOYOUS UNDERLINES HER CLASS WITH STORMING WIN IN THE TOORAK

By Taron Clarke | Sunday, October 10, 2010

Caulfield, October 9, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True. Penetrometer 5.28.
Toorak Handicap (Group 1) - 1600m.
Time: 1-36.40. 600m Sectional: 35.34. (Carrying 58kg).
1 More Joyous; 2 We’re Gonna Rock; 3 Poor Judge.
Margins: 0.4L x 0.4L.

Sydney’s glamour mare More Joyous arrived in Melbourne with a bang after the Gai Waterhouse trained horse landed her second Group 1 victory in the Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres.

After a resounding victory at her previous start in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick two weeks earlier, More Joyous and Nash Rawiller were sent out the punters elected after firming late in betting.

More Joyous looks certain to clash with superstar So You Think in what looks to be a vintage Cox Plate in two weeks’ time.

Lumbered with 58 kilograms under handicap conditions, More Joyous set a weight carrying record since All Shot carried the same weight to victory back in 1972.

The victory also brought up consecutive victories in the event for four-year-old mares after Bart Cummings mare Allez Wonder was successful in the 2009 rendition of the race.

Away evenly with the field, More Joyous and Rawiller pushed forward to come across from their awkward barrier.

In an early surprise Damien Oliver took the Mick Price trained Spacecraft to an early lead over Response.

More Joyous settled in a lovely trailing position four lengths from the leader as the field negotiated the 1000 metre turn.

The speed in the race dropped out visibly at the 900 metre mark and Queensland galloper Poor Judge was sent forward by Darren Gauci to sit outside the leader Spacecraft.

Rounding the home turn a line of four horses made the corner first.

Spacecraft and Poor Judge were joined three and four wide by Response and Drumbeats.

Tracking up on Drumbeats back was the favourite More Joyous.

Rawiller brought the daughter of More Than Ready out into plenty of galloping room in the early part of the straight but she appeared to flounder momentarily under her hefty impost.

Poor Judge gave his connections a sight by leading inside the furlong form Spacecraft on his inside and out wider on the track was the favourite More Joyous, who was knuckling down with her run.

Rawiller drove the John Singleton owned mare to the lead at the 100 metre mark and under the top weight of 58 kilograms the mare was simply too classy for her rivals.

Mark Kavanagh’s enigmatic galloper We’re Gonna Rock jumped up out of the ground late to grab second, but Sydney mare More Joyous had a long neck to spare with a similar margin back to the game Queenslander Poor Judge in third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Gai Waterhouse: “Well she really was impressive, because about a furlong and a half out I thought there's no way in the world we're going to pick up with this weight and just get past them.

“I just love the way she is gritty and just came at it and came at it … and then the last 50 metres she said ‘done, I've got it.’

“You've seen the two who will be the main contesters of the Cox Plate and both have been extremely impressive.

“I think she was more impressive today, I think it was a much harder race because of the handicap.

“She deserves it, we think she's the best mare we've got in New South Wales, and you know she should be winning a handicap like this, but you always worry beforehand.

“I know it's not that cold, it's fairly warm here today, but I had my coat on, but don't tell me I've got the nerves … it never happens!

“I look forward to Group 1's every time they’re on, I can tell you!

“She is top class … absolutely top class. There is no mucking about with her. That's what’s so lovely.
“She's feminine. She's very, very physical and she just fills the bill as you saw today.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller: “She had to sort of quicken. I actually felt at the time, oh this weight is pinning her down a fraction, but it was the fact she was on the wrong leg there for 100 metres and she's used to getting on to that other leg to let down and basically that's what she did and when she got her rhythm, she hit the line good.

“She had to knuckle down and once she reeled them in, it was very soft.

“She's beautiful and relaxed today and she has done everything we asked of her and come back and sat off that good speed and relaxed well.

“Maybe different tactics next time, but I’m very happy with the way she's come through the race and full steam ahead. I'm sure Singo will come next time.

“I got into a beautiful spot, I could see after we went 100 metres I was going to lob where I did basically.

“Darren Gauci on Poor Judge came across from out wide and threw a bit of heat back on the fire and she was able to hold her position and I was confident from then on.

“I know she'll give him (So You Think) a terrific run for his money (in the Cox Plate). She's got it all ahead of her this horse. I'm very happy with the ride I'm going into the race with.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (More Joyous): 2.60 in to 2.30.
The winner was the favourite.

Horse to follow: The winner More Joyous was simply too classy for her opposition. The best part of her race was the final 100 metres. She will need to improve again going forward to the Cox Plate showdown with So You Think, but she is a worthy contender.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
After arriving on course Chasm was examined by the Club’s veterinary surgeon and passed fit to run.

D Gauci (Poor Judge) was issued with a reprimand for permitting his mount to shift in near the 1300m when not fully clear of Drumbeats which had to be eased.

In arriving at this decision the Stewards were of the view that there were some contributing factors in that No Jurisdiction may have shifted slightly to the outside of Drumbeats when endeavouring to maintain a position one off the fence.

Drumbeats and Allez Wonder raced wide without cover.

After passing the 400m We’re Gonna Rock and Avienus were held up for clear running before both horses gained a clear passage inside the 200m.

Ghostmilk (IRE) had difficulty in obtaining running in the home straight and inside the 200m was held up between Chasm and Kidnapped before shifting back in near the 100m.

M Zahra (Drumbeats) was of the view that the horse would be better suited if brought back in distance.

When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on Spacecraft today, having led which is in contrast to its normal racing pattern, D Oliver explained that his mount jumped very well and from the wide draw he was left with no other option but to press forward and take up a position where he eventually had to lead.

C Williams (Response) could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance today. A post-race veterinary examination of Response revealed no abnormalities.

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