Trainer Matt Laurie has taken advantage of giving Treasurethe Moment an exhibition gallop at Caulfield in preparation for her next assignment.
The Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) on Saturday will be the multiple Group 1 winner’s likely next outing with the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) also under consideration.
Laurie said he would prefer to stay in Melbourne and make only one trip to Sydney for either the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap or the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Both races are run over 1600m at Randwick on April 4 and April 11 respectively.
Laurie said Daniel Stackhouse, who partnered Treasurethe Moment in Saturday’s gallop, would be offered the ride if the mare stays in Melbourne while a jockey would be required if she heads to Sydney.
After being forced into a leading position, Treasurethe Moment wound up finishing third, as an odds-on favourite, behind Pericles in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) on February 21 when resuming.
Treasurethe Moment was then scratched from the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 7 after Laurie felt the race shape was against Treasurethe Moment.
“It was a pretty tough run first-up,” Laurie said.
“It’s not her style leading. I prefer her to be back and then we drew a bit awkwardly in the All-Star Mile and I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out for us.
“I didn’t want to be leading everyone up behind Pride Of Jenni. We have seen her go out and lead by 10 (lengths) and to be running second and effectively leading the rest of them, we want to get out of that and position her where she has been able to win previously.
“With another run two weeks later, we opted to miss (All-Star Mile), plus we only wanted to give her two or three runs this prep, so there was no rush to back her up.
“I think it would be a good move to stay here and maybe then have just the one run trip to Sydney. That would be good for her, but ultimately, we’ll have a discussion with Mr Zhang and the team.
“She wouldn’t be out of place going up there, but I think having a run back here in a fillies and mares’ race, albeit at Group 2, it would be a good lead into the Doncaster Handicap or the Queen Of The Turf Stakes third-up.”
