More Joyous was impressive in her barrier trial at Rosehill

A noticeably bigger and strong More Joyous is the big news out of yesterday’s barrier trials at Rosehill with the Gai Waterhouse trained mare impressing plenty of the onlookers.

With the rise and rise of Black Caviar throughout last season she’s become somewhat of a forgotten star but her record speaks for itself throughout her career.

She’s started 19 times since making her debut for 14 victories and well over $2 million in prize money.

In fact over the course of her career she’s had a genuine excuse for just about every race she hasn’t won.

If you take out her race debut, her two starts on a heavy track and her one start beyond a mile in the Cox Plate, her only ever failure would be a third placing when returning as a three year old in 2009.

There’s no doubt this means she’s a genuine super star of Australian racing and if the word from the Waterhouse camp is anything to go by she’ll be even better this season.

“She looks fantastic,” Waterhouse said.

“She has furnished in to a very strong, healthy mare.”

Yesterday’s trial was her second this campaign however Waterhouse says she won’t be seen again until the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 30.

“She won’t have another trial, I’ll just be getting her ready for the Manikato,” Waterhouse said.

That all but rules out any trip back to 2040m for the Cox Plate with the Manikato raced over 1200m only three weeks before the premier weight for age race.

Nash Rawiller rode the mare in yesterday’s trial getting her across the line first in a time of 1:1.85 seconds across 1030m.

“We didn’t do much with her in the first trial but she is starting to build-up fitness wise now and she feels great,” he said.

A dream clash with Black Caviar looms as a real possibility in the Manikato Stakes and the owner of More Joyous John Singleton has been vocal in his statements that he’s not scared of facing Australia’s best racehorse.