Given a ground-saving ride by Brad Stewart, the rejuvenated seven-year-old gelding Hard Empire overpowered the favourite Jonker in the closing stages of Saturday’s Group III George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.
The flags were flying proudly in Perth on Saturday as shortly after their champion Arcadia Queen captured the Group II Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill with a minimum of fuss, the hard-knocking Gatting did what he failed to achieve in three starts at home, win a race at the highest level.
