Sir Moments Wins Thrilling Queensland Guineas In Blanket Finish

Talented gelding Sir Moments flashed home late to score a narrow win in a thrilling finish to the 2014 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

Sir Moments got his nose in front at the right time in the Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

Sir Moments got his nose in front at the right time in the Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Gai Waterhouse-trained Ryker looked as though he was going to steal victory in the Queensland Guineas when he kicked clear at the 200 metre mark, but a number of swoopers flew home late in a blanket finish.

Sir Moments looked like he was out of the race coming around the turn and was trapped behind a wall of horses, but stormed home when he received clear running and got the bob between a number of runners in the final stages of the race.

Jamie Walter, the brother of recently deceased trainer Guy Walter, purchased Sir Moments to be trained by Steven O’Dea and he was clearly delighted to cap off what had been an emotional week with a win in the Queensland Guineas.

“It has been a pretty rugged week and that is a fantastic result,” Walter said.

“It took me a little bit by surprise because we always thought that he was a horse that needed room and momentum and needed space to get to the outside.

“Steve is a terrific young fella and he is going places as a trainer.

“It is a great thrill and we might have had a bit of help today.”

Tim Bell required all his skill to steer Sir Moments through some tight gaps in the final stages of the race and said that he was thrilled to be able to give O’Dea his first win at Group level as well as ride a winner for Walter.

The rising hoop admitted that he was tossing up between riding Sir Moments and another horse in the Queensland Guineas and could not hide his delight that he had stayed loyal to his good mate O’Dea.

“Steve said one thing to me – he said you are not riding for me, you are riding for Jamie,” Bell said.

“He had an interrupted run at stages, but I knew the quality of the horse that I was on today and his last start had a lot of credit to it.

“The win is not going to me and the horse here it is going to the whole Walter family.

“I was tossing up between riding another runner in the race and he (O’Dea) said that you are going to get off my best horse to ride something that can’t win, so I said how about I ride your horse and we can get our first Group win together.”

O’Dea had previously taken out the Listed Dalrello Stakes and Listed The Phoenix with Sir Moments as well as the 2009 Tattersall’s Mile and Peter Gallagher Stakes with Go Cart, but today’s victory was his first at Group level.

The rising trainer admitted that he was not particularly confident when Sir Moments was blocked for a run in the final stages of the race, but was thrilled that the Choisir gelding had found clear running to give Walter and the team of owners a lucrative win

“After what has happened in the last week or so, Jamie’s family has been hit pretty hard and it was really good today to get a win like this today for him,” O’Dea said.

“He was in behind a wall of horses, but to his credit he just kept picking up and picking up and he ran through the line really strong.

“He is still a big baby and he is going to furnish even more as he gets older.”

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.