First Stakes Win for Ilovethiscity's Moonlover

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 24

After an out of character performance in the Northwood Plume Stakes, Matt Laurie's ultra-reliable Moonlover bounced back for a career highlight win in Wednesday's Listed Shojun Concrete Stakes (Black Pearl Stakes) (1200m) at Geelong.

After beginning well, Mark Zahra elected to take the daughter of Ilovethiscity to the front and she led at every call to defeat the fast-finishing Split Lip (Your Song) by a half-neck with In Good Time (Time Thief) a length back in third.

Moonlover advances her record to 9 wins, 7 seconds and 4 thirds from 34 starts with earnings of $400,080.

Winning trainer Matt Laurie said the 5yo mares first stakes win was a credit to her constitution.

"Full credit to Moonlover she has been in work for a hell of a long time now," Laurie said.

"She keeps fronting up and has now got a stakes win – that was the aim so happy days.

"She's won eight and has got a stakes win so I've got a group of very happy owners.

"Paul Wolff (part-owner) raced Ilovethiscity as well. They retained the stallion and bought a bunch of mares and this is the result out of one of them so it's a great story." 

Moonlover is the best of four winners out of six to race out of the imported Danehill mare Moondreamer (IRE) who was sold for $20,000 at the 2014 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale.

She is a half-sister to the Group II winner and multiple Group 1 placed Emerald Commander (Pivotal) who was honoured as the Champion 3YO Male Miler in Germany in 2010.

Moondreamer (IRE) has a 2yo colt by Hala Bek (IRE). Her 2017 foal by I'm All The Talk died after birth.

Moonlover becomes the second stakes-winner for Noor Elaine Farm's Ilovethiscity after the Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner, El Dorado Dreaming.

Advertisment
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
ILovethissuccess
Two serious Group I spring classic contenders for this value Victorian sire have made him a highly desirable option for budget conscious breeders seeking an outcross sire that works.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ilovethiscity Moves to Noor Elaine Farm
Noor Elaine Farm is pleased to announce the arrival of Ilovethiscity to its Euroa based stallion barn.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Stakes Success for Ilovethiscity Debutant
The Greg Eurell-trained Ilovemyself was well-supported to make a winning career debut in Saturday’s Listed Very Special Kids Plate (1000m) at Flemington but it looked bleak for his supporters when Damien Oliver found himself in a zip-fastener pocket with 100 metres left to run.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Ilovethiscity's King Of Hastings Takes Aim at the Spring
Winter wonder or genuine spring contender, King Of Hastings will likely be given his chance to answer that question when he takes aim at stakes level following his courageous win in Saturday’s Super Vobis 2-Y-O Hcp (1200m) at Caulfield.