There was plenty of drama before the start of the Group II HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) with the scratching of Hurry Curry, who gave Jamie Kah a bloody nose, and Ziggy Rose, who refused to load, but it provided a winner heading to the top.
2000m no problem (image Grant Courtney)
Treasurethe Moment has been on our radar since winning her maiden by four lengths at Geelong in June.
The daughter of Alabama Express has passed every test, over 1400m at Sandown and 1600m at Caulfield, not missing a beat when stepping up to the 2000m of Wakeful.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Matt Laurie, the Yulong colour-bearer came with a sweeping run from midfield to defeat Powers Of Opal (Ocean Park) by one and three-quarter lengths with Killcare Beachgirl (Too Darn Hot) four and a half lengths back in third.
“We knew she had something there in the early days and we just need to be a little bit patient, but she' s got a great temperament,” Laurie said.
“She relaxed beautifully today, and I was confident a long way out. We're looking forward to (the Oaks) Thursday.
“She's out of a Street Cry mare and there's a bit of staying blood line, further down the page. I mean, at the end of the day, you've got to pick an individual and if you are trying to purchase a stayer, this horse, paraded as a yearling, she screams that.
“It was never an issue for me. Her work last weekend suggested she was more than up to this as a company. It’s great to try and win for Yulong. They've been really supportive of me and I can't wait till next week.”
The Zhang family treasure the moment (image Grant Courtney)
“We knew we'd be sort of close enough, it didn’t have much pace on paper. But the instructions were just to get her to switch off. We really wanted her to do it the right way and knowing that we were a chance to step out over a little bit further, and it couldn’t have been executed any better.”
Damian Lane said he has been converted and that the filly will stay.
“She was great. Had a lovely run. The pace was moderate and she just out-sprinted them. She was really good,” Lane said.
“Just got a perfect tow in and she was too quick for the late. The further I got into the race the more confident I got.
“On how she went today, I think she can (run the Oaks distance). She ran right to the line, so hopefully, that indicates she's going to run the trip. If we have quick ground, I think that's going to suit her.
“She really enjoyed that firm ground. Hopefully she comes through the run well and can go on the Oaks.”
The Yulong homebred is the second winner from as many to race for the Street Cry (IRE) mare Draconic Treasure (USA), whose dam Hazy Glow (Invincible Spirit) is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Rich Tapestry (Holy Roman Emperor), who was runner-up in the Golden Shaheen.
Treasurethe Moment is the final foal of Draconic Treasure (USA), who died in 2022.
After enjoying stakes success in New Zealand recently with Alabama Lass in the Group II Soliloquy Stakes and Group III Gold Trail Stakes, Alabama Express has three first-crop stakes winners.
