Bred for Jumping Now Taking On The World

Mark Smith - Sunday November 10

The Willie Mullins-trained True Self (IRE) created a little bit of history when she became the first stakes-winner on the flat for the legendry National Hunt stallion Oscar but it came well before her dominant performance under Ryan Moore in Saturday’s $300,000 Group III Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.

After winning a maiden on the flat at Cork in October last year, True Self (IRE) reeled off impressive wins in the Listed Beckford Stakes at Bath and the Listed James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket before making it thee stakes win in succession at her first start of 2019 in the Vintage Tipple Stakes at Gowran Park.True Self comes clear under nRyan Moore image Grant Courtney

Part leased by OTI Racing for her Australian campaign, True Self (IRE) was given a patient ride by Ryan Moore and when the gap came she cleared away to defeat Carif (So You Think) by one and a half lengths with Maurus (IRE) (Medicean) a half-length away third.

The seven-year-old mare went down narrowly to the eventual Melbourne Cup runner-up Prince Of Arran in the Geelong Cup, which cost her a spot in the big two-miler but gained her a $200,000 bonus for winning the Queen Elizabeth.

Celebrating his first winner in Australia, Mullins said that is all water under the bridge now.

“We were probably a bit unlucky in the Geelong Cup if she had won that she would have easily got in (the Melbourne Cup) but we’re happy we have a winner,” Mullins said.

“She is improving, it’s extraordinary she’s seven years of age but she was jumping. My son and Paul Byrne bought her out of a bumper in England. They bought her to go jumping, and when she arrived home in the yard I took one look at her and said I hope you don’t own that. And there you are, she was brought down here, and we’ve had a winner, it’s extraordinary.

Advertisement

“We never dreamt she would be a flat mare; I don’t think anyone did at the time. I think she won a two-and-a-half-mile hurdle at Punchestown, which takes some getting. I’m not worried about her stamina but all the flat jockeys who ride her say she has a lot of speed. Ryan said he thinks she should come back in trip and I’m thinking I want to come back for the Melbourne Cup next year.

“We’ll have another chat at another time. Getting her home here now, hopefully, she comes out of the race sound and well. Someone said we might get an invite to Hong Kong, which would be great and then we can plan for next year.”  

Oscar’s first stakes winner on the flat came three years after he was pensioned at the age of 21 at Coolmore's’ Grange Stud where he began in 1998. It came following an abbreviated career on the track where the highlight for the son of Sadler’s Wells came when second to the former Coolmore shuttler Peintre Celebre in the 1997 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at his final start.

True Self (IRE) is one of three winners from seven to race out of the unraced Good Thought a daughter of another former shuttler in Mukaddamah.

  

Advertisment

Race Result - Queen Elizabeth Stakes Gr3 2600m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:45.42
1
True Self
- 7m Oscar (IRE) x Good Thought (IRE) (Mukaddamah (USA))
Tnr: W P Mullins Rdr: Ryan Moore 56.5
2
1.5
Carif
- 4h So You Think (NZ) x Norzita (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
So You Think
3
2.0
Maurus
- 9g Medicean (GB) x Shastye (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Craig Williams 54
4
2.5
Ventura Storm
- 7g Zoffany (IRE) x Sarawati (IRE) (Haafhd (GB))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: M Zahra 56
5
3.0
Top Of The Range
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Spiriting (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
6
3.2
Midterm
- 7g Galileo (IRE) x Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
7
4.0
Gallic Chieftain
- 7h Tamayuz (GB) x Katerini (FR) (Cacique (IRE))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Damian Lane 57.5
8
4.3
Grey Lion
- 8g Galileo (IRE) x Grey Lilas (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 56.5
9
5.1
Sir Charles Road
- 6g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Giant Mystique (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: D Dunn 57
10
5.2
Red Cardinal
- 8g Montjeu (IRE) x Notable (GB) (Zafonic (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: J Bowman 58
11
6.5
Bondeiger
- 8h War Pass (USA) x Debutante Robe (JPN) (Admire Vega (JPN))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 54.5
More Reading...
Breeding to Win - 2025 G1 Memsie Stakes
The big guns step out and spring is on in earnest when the Memsie (1400m WFA) rolls around and what a cracking field we have in 2025 for the first G1 of the Southern spring with 11 runners and 10 are G1 winners!
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.
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.
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.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.
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.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.