Prolific winning mare More Joyous has regained her best form to land Saturday’s Group Two Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield.
But there were some anxious moments for her supporters, firstly when she had to be resaddled before the start and then again when the race looked to get away from her as Sister Madly dashed clear early in the straight.
More Joyous winning the Tristarc Stakes (4YO & Up Mares Set Weight (Group 2) at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
But the Gai Waterhouse-trained five-year-old mare bounced back from her first up defeat when third to Sepoy in the Group One Manikato Stakes with a determined finish in the 1400m feature.
“She is outstanding,” Waterhouse said.
“It’s only second up and a few little things went wrong before the race, talk about being caught inside there,” Waterhouse said.
“It looked like we weren’t going to catch her (Sister Madly) but her true star ability just came through.”
More Joyous scored by a short neck from Sister Madly and Response made up a lot of ground to finish a length away third.
“She (More Joyous) is going as good as ever,” Waterhouse said.
However Rawiller was less enthusiastic about the performance.
“She did a good job but she is not going as well as she was normally when I ride her,” Rawiller said.
“She is just a very good mare with a big heart at the moment and certainly she doesn’t feel like she’s right there.
“She is getting a little bit older.”
More Joyous has won 15 of her 21 starts and Waterhouse is confident she is on track to make the Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day her sixth Group One success.
“She should be able to win that,” Waterhouse said. “It’s lovely to have a mare as good as her.”
AAP TURF
