A Brisbane Winter Carnival campaign could be on the cards for More Joyous if connections decide against a start at Randwick on Saturday.

More Joyous

More Joyous could go to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival - photo (c) Taron Clarke

Owner John Singleton is not keen to start his classy mare on a heavy track in Saturday’s Group 1 $2m Doncaster Mile (1600m) after she performed poorly on a similar surface in last year’s Doncaster.

Sydney has been hit with another spate of wet weather and overnight rain has forced the cancellation of today’s Warwick Farm meeting.

The forecast for the rest of the week is for more rain and Singleton’s racing manger Duncan Grimley said if More Joyous was to miss this Saturday a trip to Brisbane during the Winter could be a possibility.

“We will never run her again on the heavy after last time,” Grimley said.

“The original plan was to back up next week into the Queen Elizabeth, but it’s all weather dependent with her. And I am keen to give her a 2000m run this prep.”

The Group 1 $500,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick next week is on the cards while the Group 1 $500,000 Kirks Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 19 is an alternative target for the multiple Group 1 winning mare.

“The problem with Brisbane is it just shortens your spelling time and that will make it difficult to get her back for what we want in the spring,” Grimley said.

“The cards would have to fall a certain way but I wouldn’t rule it out.”

More Joyous is the winner of six Group 1s from her seventeen wins and is currently equal favourite with Secret Admirer at $6 for Saturday’s Doncaster.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.