The Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment ($1.40) has kept her undefeated preparation intact, blousing her rivals to claim a dominant victory in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday afternoon.
The daughter of Alabama Express is yet to put a foot wrong since claiming the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) in the spring, chalking up a hat-trick of wins to kick-off the autumn as she attempts to secure the VRC Oaks/ATC Oaks double.
The Vinery couldn’t have unfolded any better for the ultra-talented three-year-old, with Damien Lane allowing the short-priced favourite with horse racing bookmakers to stride into the one-one as Powers Of Opal ($23) fired up in the early stages.
Fellow Melbourne raider Benagil () looked to trail her every step of the way and got the perfect run in behind the speed, while Declichy Boulevard ($11) refused to settle under the urgings of Nash Rawiller, racing ungenerously despite lobbing on the leaders’ back in the middle stages.
Powers Of Opal couldn’t sustain her effort when turning for home as Treasurethe Moment took over at the 300m pole, and while the likes of Benagil and Verona Rose () were making some inroads in the final furlong, they were simply no match for the star filly.
The now two-time Group 1 winner couldn’t have been more impressive on the testing conditions and appears on track to complete the Oaks double on Day 2 of The Championships.
Matt Laurie was on course at Rosehill to break down the win.
“She’s a dream horse,” said Laurie.
“She’ll learn a lot today. I think she got a little bit lost. She didn’t have that trail. They spread out enough and she was sitting out on a limb with nothing really there to follow.
“Looked a little bit lost but when she got into it she was really good late so she’s only going to be better for the experience.
“It is great to win another Group 1 and great to win one for Yulong.
“She is proven at that distance (Oaks 2400m) and she’s going to lap it up. She’s just got better and better. We have been here for nearly a fortnight and she lost a little bit of weight on the way up and wasn’t completely settled but as we got deeper, she got better and better and I was pleased with her today.
“Ten days into the Oaks will be perfect.”
Damien Lane was impressed with the win in testing conditions as well as he spoke post-race.
“She’s very uncomplicated,” said Lane.
“She went to the barriers well and she has trained on her Sydney leg. The race worked out well. She didn’t love the heavy ground but because she’s so honest she just kept on keeping on.”
“On the softer ground she didn’t quicken as well as what she normally would but she’s so honest and I think she’ll handle whatever you throw at her. She’ll excel, though, on firm ground.”
Treasurethe Moment is now a firm $1.60 favourite for the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12.
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