A decision to save Wild Ruler for a second-up run at The Valley paid off on Friday night with the gun sprinter winning a thrilling edition of the Moir Stakes 2021 on way to a potential $15 million The Everest slot in Sydney.
First-up the Snitzel entire made his four-year-old debut with an eye-catching second to super sprinter Nature Strip in Randwick’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 4.
The team opted to keep Wild Ruler from running in last Saturday’s The Shorts, where Eduardo defeated Nature Strip in an upset, and instead head south to Moonee Valley for the Group 1 $1 million Moir Stakes (1000m) under the lights.
Jockey Daniel Moor came aboard for the ride and timed his run to perfection getting Wild Ruler out through a narrow gap on the short straight to hold off the fast finishing The Inferno.
Moor broke through for his first Group 1 victory last weekend celebrating his birthday in style aboard Sierra Sue in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before adding a second elite level trophy to the cabinet just six days later.
“It’s a pretty good feeling,” Moor told the media post-win.
“I gave myself a little bit of a celebration there. It’s different emotions (now) to last time.
“The Snowdens have given me an outstanding opportunity here and I’m very pleased to make the most of it.”
Having weaved his way through the field before producing a brilliant late burst, Wild Ruler ($10) had a nose to spare on the line lifting late to deny last start Group 2 McEwen Stakes winner The Inferno ($6) another victory.
The Inferno was subsequently announced on Saturday morning as a confirmed The Everest runner, the Cliff Brown-trained son of Holy Roman Emperor to represent James Harron Bloodstock.
In third rounding out the Moir Stakes trifecta one and a half lengths further back in yet another excellent Group 1 performance was Godolphin stalwart Trekking ($7.50) who rebalanced himself after looking in trouble around the tight turn.
The Royal Blue are looking likely to name Trekking as their The Everest runner this year on the back of the evergreen seven-year-old’s brave run, the galloper having run third to Yes Yes Yes in 2019 and fourth in last year’s The Everest results.
Remaining slot holders for the world’s richest turf race, The Everest running at Randwick on October 16, are then certain to come calling on the Snowdens and Moor gave Wild Ruler a glowing review.
“He’s one of the most professional sprinters I’ve ever ridden; a very smart horse,” he said.
“Everything I asked him to do, he’s just the ultimate professional and geez he’s got a really good turn of foot. He’s an electric racehorse; hopefully he can do it at stud now.”
Wild Ruler is into $15 in the latest 2021 The Everest odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au, markets led by Nature Strip ($4.60), while The Inferno is a $17 shot.
Click here for the latest all-in The Everest betting markets.
2021 Moir Stakes Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | WILD RULER | Peter & Paul Snowden | Daniel Moor | 4 | 58.5kg | $10 | |||
| 2 | 3 | THE INFERNO | Cliff Brown | Damian Lane | 0.1L | 5 | 58.5kg | $6 | ||
| 3 | 1 | TREKKING | James Cummings | Craig Williams | 1.6L | 3 | 58.5kg | $7.50 | ||
| 4 | 8 | BALLISTIC LOVER | Joseph Pride | Blaike McDougall | 2.1L | 6 | 56.5kg | $19 | ||
| 5 | 10 | SHAQUERO | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton | 2.2L | 2 | 52kg | $31 | ||
| 6 | 11 | PROFITEER | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jye McNeil | 2.6L | 7 | 52kg | $3.40F | ||
| 7 | 5 | SEPTEMBER RUN | Chris Waller | John Allen | 2.8L | 1 | 56.5kg | $15 | ||
| 8 | 6 | SWATS THAT | Leon & Troy Corstens | Damien Oliver | 3.55L | 9 | 56.5kg | $14 | ||
| 9 | 9 | MISS ALBANIA | Enver Jusufovic | Liam Riordan | 6.8L | 11 | 56.5kg | $81 | ||
| 10 | 4 | PORTLAND SKY | Matt Laurie | Luke Currie | 6.9L | 8 | 58.5kg | $15 | ||
| 11 | 7 | BROOKLYN HUSTLE | Jason Warren & Dean Krongold | Brett Prebble | 8.4L | 10 | 56.5kg | $6.50 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
