An exciting start to the day at Geelong for Yulong as the 2-year-old Alabama Express filly Treasurethe Moment romped to victory in the Rex Gorell Volkswagen Maiden Plate (1312m) shortly after the Written Tycoon colt Earth God broke his maiden in style.
Sent off an odds-on favourite after a debut second to the smart Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Oodnadatta at Geelong on June 6, Treasurethe Moment, the lone 2-year-old in the field, jumped smartly for Beau Mertens to travel outside of the leader Renovation Show.
Collaring the leader shortly after straightening, Treasurethe Moment defeated Renovation Show by a widening four lengths, with Ignacio (Redoute’s Choice) a further four and a quarter lengths back in third.
“She has a lovely temperament and a great head on her shoulders,” Beau Mertens said.
“She does everything you want her to do and was never going to get beaten from the top of the straight.
“She will only get better with racing.”
Trained by Matt Laurie, Treasurethe Moment is a Yulong homebred. She is the second winner from as many to race for the Street Cry (IRE) mare Draconic Treasure (USA), whose dam Hazy Glow (Invincible Spirit) is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Rich Tapestry (Holy Roman Emperor), who was runner-up in the Golden Shaheen.
Sadly, Treasurethe Moment is the final foal of Draconic Treasure (USA), who died in 2022.
Treasurethe Moment is the eighth Australian winner for Alabama Express, joining Brutal, with only Too Darn Hot (12) and Tassort (9) ahead of him.
The son of Redoute’s Choice also has two winners from as many runners in New Zealand, including the stakes-winner Disceation Rules as well as a winner in Hong Kong.
