Roomooz on Thousand Guineas quest after Moonee Valley win

Darryl Sherer - Saturday August 26

Trainer Tony McEvoy gave punters the lead in his summation of the win of Roomooz in Saturday's Johnnie Walker Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

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Roomooz (inside) winning the Johnnie Walker Plate. Photo: Darryl Sherer

"The formlines will be strong - that was a cracking fillies race," McEvoy said after Roomooz ($7) led around the home turn under Luke Currie then held off the late charge from Tulip ($2.25 fav) to score by a nose

"She got lost there when she was left in front and I think she did a super job to win," McEvoy said.

"We knew she was fresh and we had a plan - we didn't want to be back off the speed if it turned into a slowly run race."

Roomooz was racing for the first time since finishing unplaced in the Group I Blue Diamond Stakes and McEvoy said the daughter of Fastnet Rock will return to Moonee Valley for her next start.

"She'll come back here for the Atlantic Jewel Stakes and then the Guineas Prelude and then the Thousand Guineas," McEvoy said.

"I've always held her in high regard and I think what I was asking her to do in the autumn was a touch soon but when they have got as much ability as she has you press on if they are sound and well.

"I really felt she had improved tremendously and she's as good as any three-year-old I've got - certainly my best filly.

"In twelve months time she'll be better again."

Craig Williams was far from disappointed with the effort of Tulip.

"I thought she was excellent - I think if you swap the barriers with the winner she probably wins," Williams said.

"She's going to improve, she finished off really well and is in for a big preparation."

True Excelsior ($15) led to the home turn and was beaten two lengths into third.

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