Treasurethe Moment set for return in the G1 Memsie Stakes

Treasurethe Moment faces her toughest assignment yet when trainer Matt Laurie saddles her up in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

A winner of nine from 11 starts, the mare will be tested against seasoned campaigners for the first time in the Group 1 1400m contest.

She returns following an unbeaten autumn in which she claimed four straight wins against her own sex, extending her career-winning streak to eight in a row.

Laurie said he was buoyed by seeing Aeliana’s near-upset of Via Sistina in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last week.

“We feel she’s come back really well,” Laurie said.

“She’s here and she’s ready, but I’m still mindful that she is not four until November, so she’s very much racing as a three-year-old filly.

“It’s bit more of a challenge for her to prove it again against older stock, but she’s a wonderful horse and it would be hard to see her not picking up something along the way.

“She’s shown nothing but class and I think we can assume she’s going to measure up, whether that’s over the seven (furlongs, 1400m) we’ll find out, but certainly over a bit of ground.

“She’s had two big, solid preparations getting out over some good ground, but she’s sharp and she’s keen and enjoying her work and we’re really looking forward for what is ahead.”

Laurie flagged track conditions as a potential obstacle, with up to 30mm of rain predicted in the lead-up to the meeting.

“I think she’s a lot happier on top of the ground,” Laurie said.

“She’s got that skimming action and can quicken up really well, whereas a softer surface can take that away from a horse.

“You can’t control the weather, so we’ll have to kick off.”

Treasurethe Moment’s spring schedule is set to include the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and Turnbull Stakes (2000m), with the Cox Plate (2040m) and Caulfield Cup (2400m) options later in the carnival.

Her Oaks successes proved her stamina, though Laurie admitted her optimum trip remains to be determined.

“She was a stayer as a three-year-old and could win over seven (furlongs, 1400m),” Laurie said.

“I would be very excited to tackle an eight-furlong (1600m) race at Flemington. It’s a beautiful track for her the way she likes to gallop, and she can get ten (2000m).

“All that remains to be seen is what her pet distance is. The beauty of her is we can front up to a variety of different ranges and be competitive.”

A capacity field of 11 will assemble for the first Group 1 of the Melbourne Spring Carnival, with Treasurethe Moment drawing the inside alley under Damian Lane. Opposition includes Waller’s Fangirl and Buckaroo, plus Maher’s Another Wil and Zardozi.

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