Petite's Reward ridden to victory by gun apprentice Steph Thornton (Image: Racing Photos)
The moments
Double Bluff edged out O'lonera in a thrilling edition of the Essendon Panels Torney Night Cup, the Listed feature over 2500m. The Robbie Laing-trained galloper looks on song to be a live chance the two-mile Group 2 Adelaide Cup in March, having finished second in it last year behind Annus Mirabilis. Last year, he started 50-1 at Morphettville - but after consecutive mile-and-a-half wins in Melbourne, the son of Azamour won't be that price for the March 12 feature this time around.
Daniel Moor heads off to his weekend stint in Singapore in fine fettle, after delivering the decisive ride aboard the Danny O'Brien-trained Summer Sham in the Independent Turf Services Handicap (1200m) - the filly now with a 2/2 record. Nine winners in the past fortnight is indicative of Moor's form, which he next takes over to Singapore - where he is booked for four rides across the weekend, including two for Lee Freedman. Next for the daughter of Not A Single Doubt could be next Friday night's Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) back at the Valley, or the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) on Saturday-week if they want to step her out in trip.
The punters did not emerge a happy bunch from the 1PRINT Summer Sprint Series Heat 5 (1000m), as well-backed favourite Sacred Sham - and the initial favourite Limestone - both failed to fire. The Robbie Griffiths-trained Hay Bale led the small field all the way home, as the Wendy Kelly-trained Gibbon flashed home late for the second time in as many runs this preparation. Limestone had been a nominee for the G1 Black Caviar Lightning, but instead was diverted to the easier race at The Valley - the filly carrying high expectations on the back of her spring form that saw her run fourth in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, so it'll be interesting to see where she heads from here. The stewards reported Limestone was showing signs of lameness in the near foreleg post-race.
The Griffiths stable was again to the fore with an upset - as Dance With Fontein claimed Heat 12 of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge (955m) despite being the rank outsider in a five-horse field. Gun apprentice Steph Thornton chalked up a double in the process. The mare's winning time of 55.62 was exactly half-a-second off the season-best time shared by Mile High/Angry Gee.
Trainer Patrick Payne doesn't often take his two-year-olds to the track, so there's a good chance he means business when he does - and Friday night was no exception. Pins filly Jay Jay D'ar was an impressive debutant in holding out her rivals to win the Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights Plate (1000m) under Billy Egan's riding. It was Payne's first two-year-old winner in close to 21 months - since Matamanoa's win at Mildura in May 2016. That was a fateful day as his Melbourne Cup-winning sister Michelle rode a double for the stable, before suffering a bad fall that saw her suffer serious injuries.
Chris Waller had five of the seven runners in the opener on the Canterbury card, and they sat top-five in the market at the jump. The Waller stable took the race with Asterius swooping late to win it, but were made to sweat by a brilliant front-running ride by Katelyn Mallyon aboard Regal Cannon, who was only caught in the shadows of the post in the 1550m maiden.
The quotes
"Once I got that break on them, I was pretty confident coming to the line." - apprentice Steph Thornton continued her fine association at Moonee Valley, as did Brendan McCarthy's mare Petite's Reward. She won like a good thing, but she actually started a $21 shot after coming in with indifferent form. She's now had more than half her career starts (17/33) at the Valley, banking four wins there for Caulfield trainer Brendan McCarthy. It was the first leg of a race-to-race double for the impressive teenage hoop.
"Full credit to Daniel... he showed real commitment there from the barrier, crossed and made sure of it." - trainer Danny O'Brien was chuffed with his hoop Daniel Moor after the win of Summer Sham. Earlier, Moor rode the well-tried Sacred Sham for O'Brien but things didn't pan out for them in the 1000m sprint, but it was a different story with Summer Sham - and the jockey showed what it meant to him with a big fist pump over the line.
The stats
Daniel Moor - nine winners in 13 days
Damien Oliver/Mutarakem - 3/3 together
Robbie Griffiths/Steph Thornton - Moonee Valley doubles
Patrick Payne - first 2YO winner since Matamanoa at Mildura (May 23, 2016)
Petite's Reward - four Valley wins from 17 tries. Coming into Friday, her MV stats (16:3-2-1) were exactly half of her career numbers (32:6-4-2).
Early Quaddie dividend - a lazy $22,924.50 for those that got it
The tweets