MORE Joyous’s gritty win in today’s Toorak Handicap Gr.1 has set up an mouth-watering clash with defending champion So You Think in this year’s $3.5m W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 30.
The Gai Waterhouse trained mare set a new weight carrying record for her sex shouldering 58kgs against all comers in the Group One mile.
More Joyous was also making her first attempt counter-clockwise and despite some anxious moments in the straight, her class more than prevailed.
The daughter of More Than Ready stretched her neck out to record an incredible eighth successive win and her third at the elite level, her second Group One win against the males.
“She really was impressive,” Waterhouse said.
“About a furlong and a half (300m) out I thought there’s no way in the world we’re going to pick up with this weight and get past them, but I just love the way she grittily just came at it and came at it and then the last 50 metres I said ‘Done, I’ve got it’.
“You’ve seen the two (horses) who will be the main contesters of the Cox Plate and both have been extremely impressive.”
More Joyous has won 10 of her 13 outings to date and earned over $1.35 million.
“She is top class, absolutely top class” Waterhouse declared.
“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.”
