She Will Reign sensational in Moir win

Darryl Sherer - Friday September 29

Not even trainer Gary Portelli thought She Will Reign had got up to win Friday night's Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley with the star filly turning in a scintillating performance which catapulted her to equal favouritism for The Everest.

Advertisement
She Will Reign (13) finished best to win the Moir Stakes. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Ridden along past halfway by Kerrin McEvoy, She Will Reign ($4.40) came wide and avoided traffic to get up and grab Viddora ($31) on the line to score by a short half head with Sheidel ($9) three-quarters of a length away third.

Surrounded by cheering owners, Portelli admitted he thought She Will Reign had not got there.

"I didn't think we'd won," Portelli said. "From where I was standing I thought she'd got beat.

"When she was getting scrubbed along at halfway I was just thinking 'save something for The Everest' but then she kicked in with that extra gear we know she has and that was it."

She Will Reign was racing for the first time since winning the Golden Slipper Stakes and Portelli said the daughter of Manhattan Rain will now go straight to The Everest at Randwick on October 14.

"That's pretty good, the question mark was there about tonight for sure, I told the guys to be prepared, this is first grade tonight and will be a bit more difficult than usual," Portelli said.

"To be honest, I didn't know where she stood in the pecking order but she's proved it tonight, that was an amazing run. She did the job

"The Everest is going to be a lovely race in two weeks time - I underestimated her myself."

Viddora looked the unlucky runner, trapped back along the inside and last around the turn, only getting clear late.

A downcast Joe Bowditch was inconsolable.

"That's the biggest disappointment I've had in racing," Bowditch said. "We knew we had to ride for luck and we just got none - I still thought I'd won."

Russian Revolution started $3 favourite but, after racing in second place to the home turn weakened to beat just one home, after working too hard in the run according to Hugh Bowman.

Following her sensational performance Sportsbet elevated She Will Reign to $5 equal favourite with Chautauqua for The Everest.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch - Eagle Farm
With the recent announcement that Yes Yes Yes will stand at Gooree Park Stud this spring, the Everest hero has had a steady flow of winners with today’s Eagle Farm success story being a half-brother to Group 1 winner Uncommon James.
One to Watch Wins Again
When Grunt three year-old Mr Blunt won on debut at Ballarat on the synthetic track by nine lengths earlier this month he was an easy choice as a One to Watch and on Tuesday he repeated the performance to go two for two.
High Hopes for Unbeaten Justify Filly
The Emirates Park colours were carried to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday by exciting three year-old Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who produced a dazzling finishing burst to keep her unbeaten record intact.
Second Winner For Hanseatic’s Tiz Worthy
Having the honour of becoming the first winner for the Rosemont Stud-based Hanseatic when recording victory back in December, Tiz Worthy’s win on the Sandown Hillside course on Wednesday saw the filly become the first dual winner for her sire.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 23
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Havana Grey Sireline Strikes with New Stakes-Winner
Small in stature, Havana Grey is one of Europe’s hottest and most interesting sires and Australian breeders should probably learn a bit more about him given his Champion 2YO Colt Vandeek (GB) is shuttling to Arrowfield Stud this spring.
$1.15million 2YO Filly the 200th Winner for I Am Invincible
Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible ticked over his 200th Australian winner for the season at Canterbury on Wednesday when his blue-blood filly Kerber opened her account at just her second start.
Flying Artie 2YO Quinella at Canterbury
Trial watchers were all over the Chris Waller trained Flying Artie colt Skyglider at Canterbury on Wednesday and he duly made a winning debut leading home a trifecta for his trainer and a quinella for his Blue Gum Farm based sire.
Champion 2YO Velocious Sale Details
Group One winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) is about to be offered for auction in the Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale and the promo videos are out along with inspection details.
OTI Racing Looking for G1 Success at Glorious Goodwood Next Week
Harry Eustace will send both of his Royal Ascot winners, Docklands and Time For Sandals, to next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, presented by Visit Qatar.