It has been a while between drinks but Morvada landed an overdue win when he took out the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap at Flemington.
The Peter Jolly trained seven-year-old had never finished further back than fourth place in his last six races leading into this assignment and it was his day today as, under a well rated ride from Damian Lane, he held the advantage throughout the running and maintained his effort down the length of the home straight to score with something in hand.
Trainer Peter Jolly was rapt with the win and immediately gave his pitch for the horse to be chosen as one of the wildcards in the upcoming $5 million All-Star Mile.
“Twelve months ago, he ran second in this race,” said Jolly. “We were going to run him in the Futurity, but I desperately want to get into the All-Star Mile and I thought, if he could win today he’s got a chance of getting in with a wildcard.
“He is a terrific horse around The Valley (where the All-Star Mile will take place). I would just like to get him back there and over a mile.
“The horse is doing the talking. I couldn’t get the votes, but I’ve always had confidence in this horse and he has delivered today.’
“He is an ultra-consistent horse who you know will run well if he does go to the All-Star Mile,” agreed Damian Lane. “He can’t do any more than he is doing.
“He just had a lovely lead today. He likes to do his own thing in the front.
‘He got it uncontested and, having had that run, I let him slip probably a little bit earlier than I probably would normally have and he just had too good a finish.”
