Written by Kit Gow
Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A pair of starstudded heats kicked off the Mornington jump-outs on Wednesday morning, where queen of the autumn Treasurethe Moment moved closer to her raceday return.
Treasurethe Moment revs engine ahead of Memsie
She might be best known for her exploits at a mile or more, but Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) showed she can still be sharp when winning a Mornington jump-out on Wednesday.
The 4-year-old mare tracked early leader Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) into the home straight before pouncing, beating him home on the line in her second jump-out of the preparation. Recent Yulong acquisition See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) was third, with Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) fourth home for new trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Trainer Matt Laurie has confirmed the Yulong bred and owned mare is set for the G1 Memsie Stakes on August 30 as a kicking off point, then she will head to the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes on September 13 and the G1 Turnbull Stakes on October 4. She also holds nominations for both the G1 Caulfield Cup and the G1 Cox Plate in October.
Sepals swings wide to win
G3 CS Hayes Stakes winner Sepals (Calyx {GB}), trained by Cliff Brown, rolled to a jump-out victory at Mornington on Wednesday in another heat packed with talent. Palm Angel (Starspangledbanner) took the lead early, and the 4-year-old gelding swung out wide before pressuring her in the home straight, ultimately grabbing the win. Vinrock (I Am Invincible) was given a good nudge to quicken and come third over Inkaruna (I Am Invincible).
Sepals had been scratched at the barriers in last Saturday’s G2 PB Lawrence Stakes after becoming fractious, and looked more comfortable in the running on Wednesday.
Vinrock’s trainer Matt Laurie told media earlier this week that the Group 1-winning colt will start in the G3 HDF McNeil Stakes on August 30, before a likely Sydney campaign where he will try to thread the needle from G2 Run To The Rose to the G1 Golden Rose Stakes at the end of September.
