Trainer Gai Waterhouse won her record equalling seventh BMW Doncaster Mile (Aus-I) when More Joyous prevailed at Australia's Royal Randwick April 21 and earned the mare an automatic berth into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series.
John Singleton's More Joyous, a 6-year-old daughter of More than Ready , joins the 4-year-old Gimmethegreenlight as the second horse this year to gain a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Waterhouse followed her late father T.J. Smith with the most ever Doncaster Mile wins when More Joyous surged to the front of the 19-strong field at the 200-meter mark and beat the fast-finishing Shoot Out and Yosei in a time of 1:35:57.
More Joyous’ seventh group I win came after her connections were threatening to withdraw the mare if the track was too heavy following a week when torrential rain fell at Randwick.
Waterhouse previously won the Doncaster Mile with Pharaoh (1994-1995), Sprint By (1996), Secret Savings (1997), Assertive Lad (2001) and Grand Armee (2003).
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a global series of 73 stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held Nov. 2-3 at Santa Anita Park.
