Trainer Matt Laurie had an important decision to make earlier this autumn – target Treasurethe Moment at the Doncaster Mile or keep his powder dry for an extra week and head to the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
After watching the way star filly Sheza Alibi toyed with her Doncaster rivals seven days ago, he is happy with his decision to bypass Randwick’s famous mile.
“It was going to be the Doncaster or this race, one or the other,” Laurie said.
“We felt this was a better race to target, particularly with the likes of Sheza Alibi, who before we made our mind up looked like something special, and she clearly confirmed that in the Doncaster.
“I think we made the right choice in avoiding her.
“We’ve still got a task, but she has been an amazing horse for us and we’re returning to Sydney, she’s unbeaten there, so hopefully it will stay that way.”
The winner of 11 of her 18 starts, Treasurethe Moment has been a wonderful advertisement for Laurie’s capabilities as a trainer.
Virtually unbeatable at three, she returned with some stellar performances as an older horse in the spring, claiming the scalp of Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) and placing behind Via Sistina and Buckaroo in the Cox Plate (2040m).
Laurie has deliberately given her a light preparation this time around and she arrives at Saturday’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) third-up after a classy Sunline Stakes (1600m) win.
With flying frontrunner and last start Australian Cup runner-up Pride Of Jenni expected to ensure a truly run mile, Laurie is hoping Treasurethe Moment’s stamina will be an advantage against a field where several of the leading fancies could be vulnerable if the race becomes testing.
“She’s gotten out to 2000 metres and beyond, she has won two Oaks, so she should be able to sustain a good amount of pressure,” Laurie said.
“Pride Of Jenni’s last start effort was outstanding and that big effort can be hard to replicate at times. We’ll be hoping she has already produced her best this prep and maybe she can be found out in this race.
“We’ve made a concerted effort to keep our girl to the mile and only give her a few runs and she’s going into the race in really good order.”
Treasurethe Moment arrived in Sydney last weekend, rounding out her Queen Of The Turf preparations with some fast work on Wednesday morning.
Laurie says all the reports on her continue to be positive and she has drawn to enjoy a beautiful run from barrier three.