Almanzor Filly Wins G3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes

Media Release - Saturday April 20

Underrated three-year-old filly Moonlight Magic employed a barnstorming finish from last to secure a valuable stakes victory when she captured the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie in spectacular fashion.

The Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Almanzor had been thereabouts in all of her recent racing without having much luck, but ensured her maiden victory would be a memorable one in a race that will significantly boost her value when she eventually heads to the broodmare paddock.

Moonlight Magic powers down the outside to claim the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Punters hadn’t missed her unlucky fourth at her most recent start when hampered in the home straight as she finished fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m), and sent her out a strong $3.80 second favourite on Saturday.

That inspired support looked in jeopardy when she trailed the field in last place for most of the journey, before rider Craig Grylls got busy on the filly approaching the home turn as she looped the field to make a long, sustained run.

Angled to the outside, Moonlight Magic produced an electric turn of foot at the 300m to burst clear and dash to a three-length victory over Solidify with another Forsman runner in First Innings charging into third.

Forsman admitted he had some mid-race questions for Grylls to answer if the filly hadn’t been successful.

“She deserved that as she has been desperately unlucky in some good races right the way through,” Forsman said.

“She is a good filly who will keep getting better.

“I had wondered what Craig was up to approaching the home turn and I thought he must have a lot of horse under him to take off like he did.

“I think they had gone steadily enough up front, and he had confidence in her to take off like that.

“It was just nice to see her get a good crack at it.”

Advertisement

Forsman is in a quandary as to whether to press on with his charge to a possible Queensland campaign or to back off her and get ready for spring racing.

“She has had a lot of racing now and hard racing over ground, but to her credit she seems to be thriving,” he said.

“We will just reassess now, see how she comes through the run and work it out.”

Grylls was pleased the filly could get the victory after being stopped in her tracks at her last start.

“Last time down at Trentham she was luckless as she got knocked over halfway down (the straight), but picked herself up for fourth,” he said.

“She should have been right in the finish that day.

“I was a little bit concerned how far back I was, but there was good speed and that played into her hands as we tracked to the outside and she had a really good turn of foot.”

Almanzor (Fr) shuttles to Cambridge Stud.

Moonlight Magic is the 16th stakes-winner for Almanzor, who has had a hot run of late and sired the quinella in the Group I ATC Sydney Cup last week. 

Bred and raced by the Sunlight Trust, Moonlight Magic is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Japonica and comes from an extended family that includes triple Group One winner Serenade Rose, the 2006 champion three-year-old filly in Australia along with dual Group One winner Trekking. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes Gr3 2100m

Ellerslie Track: Soft(5) Time: 2:13.16
1
Moonlight Magic
- 3f Almanzor (FR) x Japonica (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: C J Grylls 55
2
2.5
Solidify
- 3c Redwood (GB) x The Warrior Woman (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 57
3
3
First Innings
- 3g Contributer (IRE) x Dream Run (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: M Hashizume 57
4
3.1
Rumeur
- 3g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Quaalup (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: S Ritchie & C Murray Rdr: K A Myers 57
5
3.3
The Patron Saint
- 3g Dissident (AUS) x Imposingly (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Joe Doyle 57
6
3.8
Kealoha
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P S Richards Rdr: S R Weatherley 55
7
3.9
Prometheus
- 3g Ace High (AUS) x Foiling (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: P P Mirabelli Rdr: L H Satherley 57
8
4.6
Just One
- 3g Justify (USA) x Danex (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 57
9
4.8
Rebecchi
- 3c Trapeze Artist (AUS) x Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Billy Jacobson 57
10
5.8
Investigate
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Mitigate (GB) (Lawman (FR))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: W F Pinn 57
11
10
Lanikai
- 3c Ocean Park (NZ) x Oahu (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: M Cameron 57
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Filly Primed for Oaks
Moonlight Magic beat all but one of the boys in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm last weekend, and trainer Andrew Forsman is hoping she can go one better against her own sex when she returns to the Brisbane venue on Saturday.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Kiwi Derby Contenders for Forsman
This Saturday is what everything is about for trainer Andrew Forsman – having stakes contenders on either side of the Tasman.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.