Miraval Rose kicked off 2025 with a hard-fought victory in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington, showcasing her class and determination over the 1400m trip.
Guided by Craig Williams, the four-year-old mare prevailed by a neck over Moedown, with Roll On High finishing a close third. The win marked her third career stakes success and a promising start to the new year.
Settling midfield early, Miraval Rose tracked the pace set by Windstorm and The Open before making her move in the straight.
Williams timed his run perfectly, steering her to the front with 150m to go and holding off a strong challenge from Moedown to claim victory in 1:21.60 at $4 odds with PlayUp.
2025 Kensington Stakes Replay – Miraval Rose
Rebecca Shanks, representing trainer Grahame Begg, praised Miraval Rose’s improvement this preparation.
“She’s taken a huge step forward from her first-up run and was incredibly unlucky last start when caught wide,” Shanks said.
“Today, she was spot-on condition-wise, and Craig gave her the perfect ride. At the top of the straight, she was always going to be hard to beat.”
Williams highlighted the flexibility in the pre-race strategy, adding,
“The plan was to be positive, but with a tricky field and no clear pace, I was given the freedom to adjust. She’s such a professional, and there’s still more to come from her.”
Miraval Rose’s victory continues her strong record at 1400m, where she has now won three time from four attempts. Owned by a passionate syndicate, the mare has amassed $444,725 in career earnings.
Runner-up Moedown ran a bold race for Charlotte Littlefield, narrowly missing a second stakes win in as many weeks, while Roll On High produced a strong finish to secure third. Windstorm and The Open, early pace-setters, faded late, with Windstorm finishing last.
Begg’s team is now considering a tilt at the Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast, depending on how Miraval Rose pulls up.
“She’s a very classy mare with plenty of potential,” Shanks said.
“There’s no doubt we’ll see more highlights from her this year.”
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