In an ominous warning for the spring, More Joyous has cruised to an easy barrier trial win in her first public appearance since taking the Sydney autumn carnival by storm with Group One wins in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Jockey Nash Rawiller couldn’t hide his delight after the sparkling performace by Sydney’s pin-up horse at Randwick on Monday.
“I think it’s the best she has trialled first time out for as long as I can remember,” Rawiller said.
“I’m absolutely delighted.”
More Joyous sat just in behind the leaders before working her way to the front in the straight and defeated Dystopia by 1-1/2 lengths with dual Group One winner Secret Admirer closing for third, another long neck away.
Gai Waterhouse says Cox Plate-bound More Joyous is likely to resume in a couple of weeks but the trainer will speak with owner John Singleton and his racing manager Duncan Grimley before deciding on a first-up Sydney assignment.
Secret Admirer is set to run in the Warwick Stakes (1400m) on Saturday week with both trainer Grahame Begg and new jockey Corey Brown pleased with her hitout.
“She trialled very nicely and she seems to be where we want her for this part of her preparation,” Begg said.
Somepin Anypin took out the other course proper trial over 1050m by a neck over the Waterhouse-trained Miss Stellabelle with Niagara two lengths away third.
Dual Group One winner Sincero, who will resume in the Memsie Stakes in Melbourne, was fourth.
Exciting sprinter Rain Affair won his 820m heat by a half-head over comeback sprinter Squamosa with the pair clearing out from the rest of the field by six lengths.
Rawiller was also rapt with Squamosa.
“That horse in the last three weeks has improved more than any horse in the stable,” Rawiller said.
“He was just sort of going through the motions a bit there and Gai has just tinkered with a few things and I walked away from the trial this morning over the moon. He feels amazing.”
Other notable trial winners were Nechita, Steps In Time, Amorino, Lamasery and Shelford.
