John Moloney is still to enjoy his first group 1 success, but after Saturday’s thrilling Magic Millions Guineas win with $101 bolter Flying Jess, the Caulfield trainer suspects the wait may soon be over.
Flying Jess’ blistering finish to run by the hot, unbeaten favourite Winning Rupert and then the dual group 1 winner Global Glamour to win the Guineas earned connection a whopping $1.2 million as well as gaining the filly a shot at the big time.
‘’We’re going to leave her up here (Queensland) for three weeks and then target some of those good mares’ races in Sydney over the autumn,’’ Moloney said on Sunday.
‘’She showed that she had no trouble on that (clockwise) leg and I’m sure she’ll run a strong mile and even get out to 2000 metres so that opens up a few options.
‘’She beat a couple of very smart horses and looks to be peaking so we’ll have a shot at the top and see how she goes.’’
Moloney has been training for about 30 years but said Saturday’s Guineas was easily the most rewarding of his career.
‘’Most of my best wins have been in Sydney,’’ he said. ‘’I won a Queen Of The Turf Stakes, which is now a group 1 race but was only group 2 then, in 1985 with Casual and Amberino won the Emancipation a few years’ back (2009) so I hope the luck continues in Sydney this autumn.
‘’But it’s hard to top yesterday. It’s not a group or black type race but the money is great and it was just the perfect day for us all. She’s a million-dollar winner.’’
Flying Jess, who Moloney purchased for $60,000 at the Magic Millions sale two years ago, will be nominated for races such as the group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) for fillies and mares at Rosehill on March 11, the group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for fillies over 2000 metres on March 25 and on the same day, the group 2 Emancipation Stakes over 1500 metres.
Global Glamour is likely to have the chance for revenge as her training partners Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott declared the filly would chase similar races to Flying Jess this autumn.
– racing.com
