La Dorada in Group 1 dash first-up in 2025 Moir Stakes
Star Kiwi filly La Dorada will get her chance to prove herself against Australia’s best sprinters when she contests Saturday’s Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
Winner of the Karaka Millions and the Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old, La Dorada arrives with an imposing record of three wins from four outings. While her resume is built at trips beyond 1100m, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson believes she has the brilliance to handle 1000m. “If she can show her true colours, there is no reason why she can’t win a big race,” he said.
Connections had also considered the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, but Gleeson said the weight impost there made the Moir a better option. “She is quite small in stature… so we thought we would have a crack at the Group 1.”
Prepared at Cranbourne with a pair of strong jump outs, La Dorada has earned praise from work rider Laura Winks, who said she measures up against the stable’s previous stars Imperatriz and Bellatrix Star. Future targets could include the Manikato, Scarborough, and the Thousand Guineas.
Apprentice Luke Cartwright will partner La Dorada in her Australian debut. “He is arguably one of the most promising young jockeys in Australia and he deserves his chance,” Gleeson said.
More Racing News
Weeping Woman too good in the 2025 Razor Sharp Handicap
Joe Pride’s team fired on all cylinders on Saturday, with six runners producing two wins, three seconds and a third across three states, including a dominant stable quinella in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap at Randwick. Weeping Woman ($2.60 fav) finished strongest to overhaul Coal Crusher ($6), only 35 minutes after...
Ingham triumph puts Yorkshire in 2026 Doncaster Mile mix
Tom Charlton may have been only five years old when John O’Shea secured the 2000 Villiers Stakes, but on Saturday the duo jointly celebrated Yorkshire’s commanding victory in the modern equivalent, The Ingham (1600m), at Randwick. The triumph delivered O’Shea a fourth win in the prestigious race and marked Charlton’s first...
Warnie flies late to win The Supernova 2025
With a composed ride inspired by Mark Zahra, jockey Thomas Stockdale steered Warnie to a breakthrough victory in the lucrative The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham. It was a signature moment for Stockdale, who delivered a tactically brilliant performance as the Ciaron Maher-trained runner stormed to victory in Southside Racing’s second slot...
Taramansour provides locals with a win in the Pakenham Cup 2025
Taramansour produced a remarkable form reversal to hand Phillip Stokes his first victory in the Pakenham Cup, delivering an emotional local triumph. Stokes, who splits his time between his Morphettville operation and his Pakenham base, has had the Cup on his radar since establishing himself at the training centre in 2019. On...
Bargain buy Where’s The Circus dominates 2025 Inglis Nursery
Jean Van Overmeire made the right call in giving up a full provincial book at Newcastle to focus on a single Randwick mount, with Where’s The Circus landing a stunning upset in the Inglis Nursery. The filly, picked up online for just $1250, had impressed Van Overmeire when winning a recent...
Kris Lees sets sights on another summer strike
Kris Lees has frequently struck during Sydney’s summer feature program, and he will again field a strong hand across Randwick’s stakes races on Saturday. Lees’ achievements over the past decade include victories in The Ingham with Loch Eagle and Sense Of Occasion, as well as Razor Sharp Handicap wins with Special...
Yorkshire out to make a summer statement in 2025 The Ingham
John O’Shea’s first major breakthrough as a solo trainer came 25 years ago when Grey And Gold captured the Villiers Stakes. He added another victory with On A High and later won the race again in its rebranded form as The Ingham (1600m) in 2022 with Kirwin’s Lane. Now a decorated horseman...
2025 Pakenham Cup: Browne’s roll the dice one more time
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Fox on the hunt of 2025 The Supernova win
Emma-Lee and David Browne will “roll the dice” one more time with Statuario as they search for a fairytale hometown victory in the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m). The Kiwi trainers shifted to Victoria in 2022 and settled into Pakenham last season, where a local Cup triumph would be particularly meaningful —...
Warm weather suits Rey Magnerio in 2025 The Gold Rush
Trainer Robbie Griffiths is already turning his attention to next autumn’s The Quokka, believing Rey Magnerio’s successful transition to Perth makes a return visit highly likely. Before that, the gelding steps into Saturday’s Group 3 The Gold Rush (1400m), his second appearance in Western Australia. Griffiths said the gelding has adapted superbly...