More Joyous won her 12th career victory in the MRC Futurity Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon and topped off a great day for her sire following victory by new Stakes winner Tropic Thunder in Adelaide and the emergence of super filly Elite Falls in the Silver Slipper.
‘TOUGH’ and ‘tenacious’ were the words champion trainer Gai Waterhouse and winning jockey Nash Rawiller used to describe Australia’s number one racemare More Joyous after she posted her fourth Group One win.
Sent out a pronounced $1.50 favourite, the More Than Ready mare took up her now customary ‘stalking’ position in behind the two leaders before making a quick and decisive move approaching the 200m marker.
From there, nothing was going to run her down and while second-elect Whobegotyou closed fast late, More Joyous dug in for a fight and held her rival at bay to win by 0.8-elsn with Dao Dao a further 1.5-lens away in third.
“She is so special,” a jubilant Waterhouse declared.
“She’s just unbelievably tenacious.”
Rawiller, who has steered More Joyous to 8 of her 12 wins, was also rapt with the mare’s effort under pressure.
“Everything’s going terrific,” he said.
“She certainly is tough, she’s strong. She’s got all the attributes.
“I can’t wait for the Cox Plate later this year.”
More Joyous recorded a time of 1:21.79 seconds for the 1400m which is which is just 0.59 seconds outside of Exceed And Excel’s course record set in 2003 Group 1 VATC Dubai R C Cup.
