Take note racegoers, the Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes is now Group 3 with prizemoney jumping to $250,000, and to be run with the Wyong Cup this Friday.
However, can the big-betting Wyong Cup be overshowed as its a highly competitive open-class staying handicap of 2100m, and of course the winner eligible for the Big Dance.
And with the Big Dance staged at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day, its Alalcance who is $4 with Australia wide wagering agencies, and trainer Gai Waterhouse looking for a third race win.
Also the first success for training partner Adrian Bott, Alalcance has Adam Hyeronimus on 61kg jumping from Gate 9 of 12 starters, first-up from a 15 week spell and three barrier trials.
Now the winner of the Chairman’s Handicap, N E Manion Cup and Randwick City Stakes the 6yo British bred mare is by Mastercraftsman, being the family of Champion German mare Albanova.
As the $3.10 race favourite is the last start Rosehill 2000m winner Travolta for Chris Waller and jockey Kieran McEvoy, with $5 for Saltcoats and Zac Lloyd having won the Premier’s Cup Prelude.
Also, for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Mona Lisa Stakes of 1350m for 3yo+ fillies & mares, the 5yo mare Redbreast has Craig Hyeronimus carrying 55kg, starting from 9 of 16 starters.
As Gai is looking for her record fifth win and the first for Adrian Bott, at $14 Redbreast was second in the Belle of The Turf Stakes, and by American Pharoah is the family of Master of Design, Assail.
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have the Canberra Guineas winner Snow In May as the $5.50 favourite with James McDonald, and at $9 is Countyourblessings ridden by Dylan Gibson.
And with Mario Caltabiano winning the first Mona Lisa Stakes with Corelli in 2000, Gai Waterhouse claimed her first race win in 2001 with Altiero, and followed with Pasikatera in 2006.
Following up in 2009, this time with jockey Nash Rawiller having the first of his three record wins, it was the 5yo mare Moti who was the first Mona Lisa winner to score the ‘Tibbie double.’
In running a time of 1-19.14s on a Soft 5 to win the Mona Lisa by a half-length from Ivory Pegasus, she next took out the Tibbie Stakes of 1400m two weeks later at Newcastle, again with Nash Rawiller.
Having also won the Toy Show Quality Handicap of 1400m at Randwick the start prior to the Mona Lisa, she had won 8 of her 14 starts for Gooree Stud, racing in their red with black stripes silks.
Unable to produce a winner of her own ability, Moti was by AJC Derby winner Don Eduardo, himself a $3.5m record yearling, being the family of Golden Slipper second Just Blooming.
And with Gai Waterhouse’s powerful Tulloch Lodge ruling Sydney and Provincial racing, and with Nash Rawiller as her ‘first’ jockey, they next combined to win with Miss Stellabella in 2012.
In scoring a comfortable come from behind 2¼ length victory in 1-19.91 on a Good 3 over Irish Dream, Josh Parr, she was next fourth in the Tibbie Stakes, having been seventh in the Toy Show.
Having won the Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley when trained by Mark Kavanagh, she won three of her 28 career starts, and 10 placings, racing in the red with yellow silks of Ken Moroney.
Originally a $38,000 2009 Magic Millions Australian Weanling Sale graduate, and next a $75,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was by the top-line international sire Dehere.
