Top jockey Nash Rawiller confirmed his allegiance for More Joyous after the glamour mare continued on her winning way in the Group 3 $250,000 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill today.

More Joyous wins again, this time in the Group 3 Golden Pendant at Rosehill. Photo by: Steve Hart

Trainer Gai Waterhouse kept her stranglehold on the Cox Plate with her stable stars More Joyous and three year old Pierro holding their spots at the head of the market.

Rawiller was reluctant to separate the pair’s chances in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27, but proclaimed he was more than happy to keep his association with More Joyous.

“I’m very happy. This mare has been so good to me over four or five years. Next year’s it going to be tough one, but at this point in time I’ll be more than happy to stick with the great mare. She’s been pretty good to me,” Rawiller said.

Rawiller eased More Joyous out coming to the home turn and wound the mare up in the straight to run away for an easy win as expected under the weight conditions of the race.

“She was at her brilliant best. She really felt terrific throughout the race,” Rawiller said.

“The pace was only average and I was happy for her to find her feet. I didn’t want to be without cover running into the wind, she relaxed beautifully in behind them there and put them to bed pretty quick.”

Waterhouse was delighted with the result and will now send the glamour mare to Melbourne for the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 as her final lead-up for the Cox Plate.

“Just a working gallop. Down to the Toorak here we come,” Waterhouse said.

Today’s win was More Joyous’ twenty-first win from twenty-eight starts, chalking up her eighteenth Group success, taking her earnings to almost $4.5 million.