CHAMPION Mare More Joyous remains on target to take out the $2m Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick later this month after successfully defending her Queen of the Turf crown on Golden Slipper day.
The daughter of More Than Ready has been installed as the $5 pre-post favourite to win the nation’s most famous mile race ahead of Epsom winner, Secret Admirer at $6 followed by former AJC Derby hero, Shoot Out at $9.
More Joyous was at her awesome best at Rosehill on Saturday powering away to win her second Queen of the Turf Stakes, the first mare to successfully win back-to-back runnings of the event.
“I’d say that was her best win; at least I can’t recall when she has been more dominant against such quality opposition,” trainer Gai Waterhouse said.
“She was fantastic today, fabulous, so explosive. She is a joy to watch.
“You see it with the likes of Black Caviar; when they are too good for them, they are too good for them.
“More Joyous is just a wonderful, wonderful mare.”
Nash Rawiller has ridden More Joyous in most of her big-race wins and he doesn’t believe she has ever been going better.
“More Joyous was outstanding today,” he said.
“She had the race won a long way out. She makes my job easy. I just have to steer her away from trouble.”
More Joyous’ weekend triumph was her sixth at Group One leverl and the 17th career win from 24 starts.
