Aloisia creates Group I fairytale for Purcell in Thousand Guineas

Ben Dorries - Saturday October 14

Aaron Purcell became a Group I winner and has the new VRC Oaks favourite but surprisingly he did not rate Aloisia's Thousand Guineas romp as his biggest moment in racing.

Advertisement
Aloisia gave Aaron Purcell his first Group I in the Thousand Guineas and she is now the $4 VRC Oaks favourite Photo: Darryl Sherer

The former Kiwi filly zoomed from a $7 Oaks chance into $4 favourite after her 1¼ length romp over 1600m at Caulfield with her suspended trainer Ciaron Maher excitedly jumping up and down as he watched on.

Maher developed Aloisia before he was suspended for six months and fined $75,000 after pleading guilty to charges stemming from Peter Foster's ownership of five horses in his stables.

But it is Warrnambool trainer Purcell who now has the care of Maher's horses and who claimed the spoils of Aloisia's win as he soared into racing's Group I club.

It is onwards and upwards to the VRC Oaks for Aloisia but Purcell, incredibly, did not rate becoming a Group I winning trainer as his biggest career thrill.

That place in his heart is still kept by training 2008 Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Ginolad.

"There are a lot of Group 1s but there is only one Grand Annual," Purcell said.

"I've been around the traps a while but it is good to get a Group I.

"The last while (taking over Maher's stable) has been a whirlwind, a lot of these horses are new to me and I have only known them from afar.

"Ciaron has put a lot into Aloisia and he deserves a big pat on the back."

Luke Nolen rode a perfect race on Aloisia ($14) has he sat back off the speed and picked a perfect path along the inside to knock off second-placed Shoals ($4.40).

"I think the Oaks was the target this prep, so it's bloody awesome," he said.

Favourite Alizee ($2.15) ran on for third but never looked like getting close to Aloisia.

"She enjoyed a lovely run but just didn't have the ping today," Alizee's jockey Glynn Schofield said.

Purcell has his maiden Group I but there could more on the way soon and the Oaks over 2500m looks ideal.

"Everything she has done has been aimed towards the Oaks, and we've grabbed the Guineas on the way through," Purcell said.

"She has always been aimed towards the Oaks and we are definitely going to keep pushing on."

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for $2.1million Magic Millions Sale-Topper
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia, the filly that topped the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m).
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.
G1 Champions Mile Next for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride will likely keep stable star Ceolwulf to a mile as he looks to round off his spring campaign with a first trip away.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
A lone 2YO went around in an 800m trial for two and three year-olds at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and the Snitzel colt won in good style carrying the Mulberry Racing colours.