Runaway debut star Memorial confirmed she is a filly to remember when she kept Darley’s domination of Sydney two-year-old races rolling on Saturday.
Two weeks ago at Rosehill, Memorial surged ahead by nearly 2-1/2 lengths to win in dazzling fashion at her first start but her return to the track was even more devastating.
Memorial - Photo by Steve Hart
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled the youngster – a dominant favourite at $1.65 – into second place early in the Blackwoods AAP Industries Plate (1100m) until letting her have her head in the straight.
She gathered her stride before clearing out for a 3-3/4 length win over Press Report ($18) with Princess Zola ($101) a head away third.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Spirit Of Joy ($4.20) was closest to Memorial in the betting and showed speed before finishing fourth.
Memorial is one of three Peter Snowden-trained fillies, including Earthquake, to win two-year-old races over the past four Saturdays.
The victory boosts her prizemoney to $137,500, which should be enough to all but qualify her for the Golden Slipper in the autumn.
“She’s a definite (Golden Slipper) contender,” Snowden said.
“For two-year-olds to show that much improvement each time you bring them out, they don’t very often do that.
“They’ll improve a length, a neck, or they’ll stay the same. But that’s a quantum leap today.”
Memorial’s stablemate Orujo was also entered for the Rosehill race but was sent south where he finished fifth as favourite at Caulfield and was found to have a slow post-race recovery rate.
The Darley team produced another winner in the following race when the impeccably bred La Pieta claimed her third win from 10 starts when she edged out stablemate Coins to win the Blackwoods Apex (1400m) by a head.
By Redoute’s Choice out of Group One-winning mare Divine Madonna, La Pieta will now be aimed at the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford on January 10.
