My Gladiola breaks through for Moir Stakes success
My Gladiola has finally achieved Group 1 glory, taking out the Moir Stakes at Sandown in an emotional victory.
The traditional venue for the 1000m Group 1 sprint, Moonee Valley, is currently undergoing reconstruction, leading to the race's relocation to Sandown this year.
The 1000-metre dash, run under weight-for-age conditions, was a thrilling affair. My Gladiola ($9.50), under the guidance of jockey Jamie Mott, managed to edge past Cavalry Girl ($8.50) in the final strides to win by a short-neck, with the heavily backed $3 favourite Natural Fling finishing a further three-quarters of a length away in third.
Before Saturday's hard-fought win, My Gladiola had been runner-up to Tentyris on two occasions in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Lightning Stakes (1000m), both races run down the straight at Flemington.
Trainer John McArdle commented that it was fitting for My Gladiola to finally break through at the elite level.
"She has run against the best her entire career," McArdle remarked.
"We ran second to Tentyris a couple of times, in incredible times and she was deserving of this, but I didn't think it was going to be today.
"I did before the rain came, but all the team at home have done a great job with her."
McArdle had seriously considered scratching My Gladiola when the track was impacted by rain in the early hours of Saturday morning, turning it into a soft surface.
The Caulfield-based trainer had been contemplating saving the mare for the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.
"Thank God, I second guessed myself a little bit," McArdle confessed.
"We were thinking about scratching and thankfully they put it up as a (soft) seven.
"If it had been an (heavy) eight, we may not have been here.
"Things went her way today. The wind and the sun dried the track out a bit, and Jamie gave her a great ride.
"Getting a good barrier we didn't have to go as far back as we normally do and she's got the job done."
McArdle also expressed immense pleasure in teaming up with Mott for this significant Group 1 achievement.
"Motty has been our stable rider for a long time," McArdle said.
"When he was getting a couple of rides in the bush, we were putting him on in Group races with Humma Humma.
"I always said, 'you stick with me, I'll stick with you' and we have. We've been close plenty of times and now we've done it."
Mott, who recorded his fifth elite-level victory, revealed the depth of his emotion in guiding My Gladiola to the win.
"Just to do it for John is just unbelievable," Mott exclaimed.
"He's had a Group 1 winner in the past and he's loyal to me as a jockey, and I've loved working closely with him and his team.
"Obviously with her coming along, she's been so special. (She was) yet to tick off that Group 1, but we knew she was good enough.
"I'm absolutely over the moon.
"My fifth Group I and I haven't been this emotional (for the others), so it's pretty special."
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