In a monumental three-horse war, the top-class Snitzel filly Four Moves Ahead turned the tables on her Silver Shadow Stakes conqueror Swift Witness in Saturday’s Group II Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Swift Witness was second across the line but was demoted to third by the stewards.
Four Moves Ahead does best in a driving finish (image Steve Hart)
Returning to the winner’s circle for the first time since the Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick in February, Four Moves Ahead made it three wins on the day for Nash Rawiller in defeating the Not A Single Doubt filly Mallory by a neck with the Star Witness filly Swift Witness demoted to third.
Fourth in the Group 1 Golden Slipper and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, the John Sargent-trained filly began her three-year-old campaign with a third in the Group II Silver Shadow stakes before a close-up fifth to Jamaea in the Group II Furious Stakes.
Sargent said that Rawiller had a plan in place on how the flashy chestnut should be ridden.
“When I walked out in the rain to talk to him to tell him what to do he said I’ll ride her very similar to how I rode her in the Slipper,” Sargent said.
“He did and this rain helps her. I think she’s on an upward plane and peaking for the Flight Stakes.
“She has a good turn of foot. You don’t need to take off too early at Randwick. I was very happy with that. It is good to see her back in form. Onwards and upwards from now.
“Just this week her coat finally came out. It has taken a bit longer. The couple of runs haven’t all gone her way but not making excuses. Two weeks to go to the Flight and that is the one we are after because it is a Group 1.
“Emeralds, her half-sister, won at a mile in the Angst. She is very competitive when Swift Witness came around her, she wanted to go then. Nash knows her, hold her back and wait.”
Four Moves Ahead failed to make her $300,000 reserve at the Magic Millions
Four Moves Ahead races in the colours of her breeder Jonathon Munz after she failed to make her $300,000 reserve when offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Snitzel advances her record to three wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $538,200.
A half-sister to last years Listed ATC Angst Quality Handicap winner Emeralds (Sebring), Four Moves Ahead is the second foal of the unraced Mr Greeley mare Doulmera (USA).
A half-sister to the Group 1 Longchamp Prix de l'Opera heroine Dalkala (Giant's Causeway), Doulmera (USA) is a daughter of Daltaiyma (Doyoun) a sister to Daylami the Horse of the Year in Europe in 1999 and a half-sister to European Horse Of The Year Daylami and to Brighthill Farm stallion Dalghar (FR).
Doulmera (USA) has a 2yo colt by Pierro that was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock / Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) for
$750,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Doulmera (USA) slipped in 2019 and missed last year.
