By Ray Hickson
The potential of a wet track for Treasurethe Moment’s Sydney debut is the only question mark trainer Matt Laurie has over the boom three-year-old's chances of extending her winning run to seven at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Matt Laurie (Pic: Bradley Photos).
The Yulong filly is stifling betting on the Group 1 $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) as the $1.60 favourite with TAB (on Wednesday) and all things being equal Laurie expects her to win again.
But he hasn’t exposed Treasurethe Moment to genuinely wet ground so if that eventuates in the Vinery it’s a case of ‘let’s find out’.
“At some point you’ve got to know what they can and can’t do,’’ Laurie said.
“If she doesn’t handle it then so be it, you’d be thinking twice about running in an Oaks if it’s similar.
“But these good horses can often do things they shouldn’t, even when it comes to conditions.
“If we were running on a dry track this weekend we’d just be continuing on our merry way.
“It changes everything, not only do we have to handle going in a different direction we may have to line up on a pretty rain affected track. That may allow the others to get into it a bit more.”
Treasurethe Moment is favourite for both the ATC Derby, run on Saturday week, after Yulong boss Vin Cox kept the option open despite not being nominated and the ATC Oaks on April 12 though Laurie’s preference is to stick to the fillies race.
Laurie has had his star filly stationed at Randwick for the past week and completed her build up with a gallop on Wednesday morning.
“I’m happy with how she’s settled in, she’s eating pretty well and (Damian Lane) came and gave her a nice gallop over the weekend,’’ he said.
“I’d done quite a few bits of work the reverse way in anticipation of coming up here early in the preparation.
“She always strikes off on her left leading leg every day without fail but she’s learning to swap leads around the bend and she did that in the Saturday gallop.
“It seems to me you can give them plenty of practice and it doesn’t always work but she’s a good horse and I don’t have an issue with it.”
Treasurethe Moment only made her debut in June last year and she’s been unbeaten since scoring at Sandown on September 28.
Her rise from there has been swift and she became the dominant staying filly with easy wins in the Wakeful Stakes and Group 1 VRC Oaks in the spring.
She’s picked up where she left off with a pair of Group 2 wins at 1400m and 1600m and still leaves Laurie wondering how good she could be.
“She’s got great lung capacity, she’s a horse that can put herself in a position, she can sustain a good speed but she doesn’t overdo it within herself,’’ he said.
⚜️ BAM! Group double for #AlabamaExpress 🙌
Yulong-bred & owned 3YO filly Treasurethe Moment (ex Draconic Treasure) claims the G2 Kewney S. for @mattlaurierace at @FlemingtonVRC adding to Alabama Lass’ G3 win earlier today 🏆#aworldofopportunity pic.twitter.com/H3du1p5QDF
— Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) March 8, 2025
Treasurethe Moment wins at Flemington on March 8 (Video: Yulong on X)
“She never pulls or works against the rider, she can present and travel in longer than the others and then she can kick. She’s got it all at the moment.
“You could always tell she had good ability but how do you predict them to do to what she’s done.
“You don’t know where her ceiling is, that’s what is so interesting about this horse. We’ve had a few nice horses along the way but she’s next level that’s for sure.”