The 2026 edition of the Moir Stakes has been run, with John McArdle’s star mare My Gladiola proving too strong for rivals to claim the Group 1 race.
Below is what the winning trainer, winning jockey and beaten riders had to say following the Group 1 feature.
Winning Trainer: John McArdle
Thinking about scratching: “Thank God I second guessed myself a little bit. We were thinking about scratching and thankfully they put it up as a (soft) seven. If it had been an (heavy) eight we may not have been here. Things went her way today. The wind and the sun dried the track out a bit and Jamie gave her a great ride. Getting a good barrier we didn’t have to go as far back as we normally do and she’s got the job done.”
A good sprinting mare: “She has run against the best her entire career. We ran second to Tentyris a couple of times, It was incredible times and she was deserving of this. I didn’t think it was going to be today. I did before the rains came. All the team at home have done a great job with her.”
Relationship with Mott: “Motty has been our stable rider for a long time. When he was getting a couple of rides in the bush, we were putting him on in Group races with Humma Humma. I always said, ‘you stick with me, I’ll stick with you’ and we have. We’ve been close plenty of times and now we’ve done it.”
Winning Jockey: Jamie Mott
On what winning a G1 with her and John McArdle means: “I’m actually really emotional. Just to do it for John is just unbelievable.
“He’s had a Group 1 winner in the past and he’s loyal to me as a jockey, and I’ve loved working closely with him and his team, Brent, Colin, everyone at his stable.
“Obviously with her coming along, she’s been so special. (She was) yet to tick off that Group 1, but we knew she was good enough.
“I’m absolutely over the moon. My fifth Group I and I haven’t been this emotional (for the others), so it’s pretty special.”
On her overcoming a wet surface to win: “John was really concerned with the track, but I had three walks to the track. I actually didn’t get to exactly where I wanted to, but I was happy enough that it wasn’t too bad for her and she was going to cope with it.
“Her first-up, she’s dynamic and she’s a proper 1000-metre Group 1 sprinter.
“I’m just so proud and so happy for John and all his connections.
On her being keen in the run and what makes her a good 1000m horse: “That’s just her and I don’t think we can change that, to be honest.
“I’ve led on her in the past, let her go, and it didn’t work and I think that’s why she’s so good at the 1000, because she can have that speed. She does get strong, but she’s still kind of relaxes at the same time.
“Whereas, obviously, when we go further, she can get a little bit too strong because her tempo’s not there.
Beaten Jockeys:
Mark Zahra (Giga Kick): “I think the 1000 is just a bit sharp. We were back, not rough, but crashing into each other back there a few of us and the leaders just got away from us.”
Brad Rawiller (Rothfire): “Really pleased with how he’s raced. At 1000 they were just that bit too sharp for him, he’s not getting any younger, but today’s race will sharpen him. Bring on the Manikato.”
Ben Melham (Skybird): “Began really fast and I just took advantage of that. In an on-pace dominated race – the leaders sat up, first four home were first four in running – and I think she probably wants it a little wetter. I was pleased with her run and she’ll come on for the run.”
Jye McNeil (Generosity): “She just found them a little bit too sharp down the hill first time under pressure, that put her a little bit too far out of contention but I thought she made up really good ground late.”
Luke Nolen (Ole Dancer): “Struggled in the ground and she’ll be better for the run.”
Blake Shinn (Geegees Mistruth): “I thought she ran super. Had a lovely run, presented to win. Just testing ground probably peaked first up, but she acquitted herself well.”
Daniel Stackhouse (Point Barrow): “Just the way her racing style, the race sort of got away from her and she was chasing a long way out. Once we got down the hill she just struggled in that going but I thought she did a good job to pick up late.”
Craig Williams (Cavalry Girl): “Her performance was brilliant. She was so cavalier in defeat, credit to Tom Daberning her trainer and all the team around her. The owners have had a great ride and she’s now run second in a Group 1 at weight-for-age so she’s really kept stepping up every time they’ve asked her to.”
Beau Mertens (Hearcomesthestar): “She’s run terrific. Obviously first-up, I think she’s done a good job against those class of horses. Next start she steps up to the 1200 and I think that’s going to be suiting her a lot better, but she put her best foot forward.”
Ethan Brown (Extragalactic): “Good effort. I thought they were a bit sharp for her at the 1000. She kept coming late, she’ll be better for the run and up to 12 she’s certainly got a race like this in her.”
Teo Nugent (Bazaball Rewarded): “Very honest. Got a good hip-and-shoulder out the gates from the get-so and settled further back than anticipated but very gallant in defeat.”
Jamie Melham (Natural Fling): “She was great. She’s still inexperienced and still immature, so I was very impressed with her. I think she’ll be better over further too.”
