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.

Advertisement

"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...
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Ilovethiscity Colt Stakes Derby Claim
El Dorado Dreaming might not be the only Group I winner sired by Ilovethiscity come the end of the spring carnival with the Darren Weir trained three year-old colt Savoie staking a claim on the Group I VRC Victoria Derby with a runaway win in the $60,000 VRC Derby Trial over 1800 metres at Flemington Wednesday.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Ilovethiscity Moves to Noor Elaine Farm
Noor Elaine Farm is pleased to announce the arrival of Ilovethiscity to its Euroa based stallion barn.