Treasurethe Moment is a brilliant two-time Oaks winner ready for the Spring Group 1s.
Update: Treasurethe Moment made an explosive return to racing smashing her more seasoned rivals by 2.5 lengths fresh to win the Memsie Stakes and stamp herself as the potential new queen of the season!
With the Spring Cup lead-up races now in full swing, this week for the fifth edition of our Spring Prospect Watchlist we’ve turned our attention to one of last season’s best staying fillies who is tipped to go to the next level this prep.
Last week we dove into the spring credentials of the Derby winning Aeliana who was huge in her Winx Stakes return running second to star stablemate Via Sistina.
Now it’s Treasurethe Moment’s turn in the spotlight with Matt Laurie’s stable ace set to run first-up this weekend at Caulfield in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
As a filly she did something pretty rare winning eight straight including the VRC Oaks – ATC Oaks double.
It takes a special lady to pull that off and with improvement to come there’s every chance we’ll see her lining-up as one of the best in Caulfield Cup betting come October.
So, let’s get into why this now four-year-old is one you must add to her spring watchlist!
Ladbrokes Tip: Treasurethe Moment is a proven 2400m Group 1 winner making her $9 all-in Caulfield Cup odds attractive!
TREASURETHE MOMENT
- Age: 4YO
- Sex: Mare
- Breeding: by ALABAMA EXPRESS from DRACONIC TREASURE (USA)
- Owners: Yu Long Investments
- Trainer: Matt Laurie
- Career: 12-10:-2:0
- Prizemoney: $3,010,262
Major Wins:
- Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 7, 2024
- Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on April 1, 2025
- Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 12, 2025
First-Up Spring Start:
- 1st in the Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30 beating Mr Brightside home by 2.5 lengths
Second-Up Spring Run:
- 2nd in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Feehan Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on September 26 beaten 1.75 lengths by Pride Of Jenni
Third Spring Run:
- Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 – Ran 2nd to Globe 3 lengths beaten
Latest Start:
- Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25 – Ran 3rd 1.6 lengths off Via Sistina
Features in Futures Markets for the:
- Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 8 – $8 (at time of publish)
- Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 8 – $7 (at time of publish)
Why She’s the Real Deal for the Spring Group 1s
Proven Group 1 Form: Group 1 cred? Yep, Treasurethe Moment’s got it in spades. She dominated everything against her own age as a filly and gets the chance to do it again as a 4YO starting in the Memsie where the money’s coming for her thick and fast. She doesn’t look to be some flash-in-the-pan three-year-old either with every indication she’ll be even stronger this time in. Handles big race day pressure without breaking a sweat and that bodes well with Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day known to get noisy!
The Matt Laurie Factor: Laurie’s no mug when it comes to prepping horses for the big league. She’s in good hands with this Mornington horseman who is really coming into his own now. He’s got her locked in for a classic spring campaign and he’s not shy about his belief in her either.
Ideal Racing Profile: She’s basically tailor-made for those middle-distance and staying races like the Turnbull, Cox Plate, maybe even the Caulfield Cup as she’s a special type. Her rare combo being able to run her rivals ragged all day long but still display a beautiful turn of foot makes her a threat in anything she’s placed in. She ticks both boxes for Melbourne and Sydney Carnival targets.
Unbeaten at Caulfield: She’s made Caulfield her own and is two-from-two at The Heath ahead of the Memsie. Her knowledge of the track ahead of the majors is a huge edge and adds to the laundry list of reasons to get behind her again there this prep.
Eye-Catching Performances
Treasurethe Moment was absolutely a revelation last prep for Laurie. What she did as a filly was superlative. She isn’t just “good”, she’s rewriting the rulebook of domination. Eight wins in a row? That’s not normal, it’s freakish in the best way.
Her autumn run was a masterclass in versatility. Coming back from a spring that culminated with her VRC Oaks triumph, she scooped up back-to-back Group 2 wins in Melbourne before saluting odds-on at Rosehill in the Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m like it was pocket change. Flexed her authority going on to win the Australian Oaks in a stylish late charge cementing her status as a star stayer in the making.
She’s got a relentless engine eating up ground over the longer-trips while also sustaining her run over middle-distance features. She owns Caulfield and isn’t scared of backing up quickly either pulling off that 2024 Wakeful – VRC Oaks double like it was just another day at the office.
That’s the kind of autumn form that makes you want to remortgage the house for the spring!
Best Autumn Form Line
Her autumn form was wild capped off with an impressive Australian Oaks victory that demonstrated she could compete and defeat the best fillies over a staying trip.
Look at the history books: past ATC Oaks winners including subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant don’t often fade into obscurity. Many come back in the spring and tear it up so, the pattern’s there to see.
Lane settled her midfield in the Oaks, lacking cover and on the wrong lead for parts of the race. On the turn for home, she was under siege as the field cornered, with Sun ‘N’ Sand sprinting strongly and threatening a boilover.
Despite giving away ground, Treasurethe Moment showed elite determination and class in a final late surge, digging deep to reel in the leader in the final 100m.
Lane called her “a pleasure to ride” and credited her ability to “knuckle down when it counted,” highlighting her champion qualities.
Before the Oaks, her Vinery Stud Stakes win saw her find a way in a race run at a decent clip. Not every filly can switch between a drag race and a marathon with that sort of authority. For us, that’s a golden ticket for a race like the Cox Plate.
Recent Trial Performance
Treasurethe Moment seriously turned heads in her second jump-out before her debut 4YO run. She looked very sharp on August 20 at Mornington winning the 1000m hit-out on Soft going over a cracking field that included the All-Star Mile champ Tom Kitten (4th).
She tracked the early leader Tropicus into the straight kicking into gear to nab it late. That burst of speed? As good as ever. She’s got gears for sure and looks primed and ready to launch first-up.
What the Trainer Says
Laurie’s a huge fan for understandable reasons, and he believes the four-year-old mares, including Treasurethe Moment, could steal the show this spring.
That belief was further solidified after the ATC Derby winner from the Waller stable, Aeliana, came out and finished a huge second never giving into Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes last weekend.
“We feel she’s come back really well,” Laurie said.
“She’s here and she’s ready, but I’m still mindful that she is not four until November, so she’s very much racing as a three-year-old filly.
“It’s bit more of a challenge for her to prove it again against older stock, but she’s a wonderful horse and it would be hard to see her not picking up something along the way.
“She’s shown nothing but class and I think we can assume she’s going to measure up, whether that’s over the seven (furlongs, 1400m) we’ll find out, but certainly over a bit of ground.
“She’s had two big, solid preparations getting out over some good ground, but she’s sharp and she’s keen and enjoying her work and we’re really looking forward for what is ahead.”
With her regular rider Lane declaring that “she feels sharper again this time,” her rivals will be feeling very nervous!
Pedigree & Nature
Treasurethe Moment’s got some legit bragging rights in her bloodline. She’s a mare by Alabama Express who won four of his eight starts including the CF Orr Stakes in 2020. She is also the last foal of well-regarded, American-bred mare Draconic Treasure – from the famed Street Cry line – so her pedigree runs deep.
People close to credit that she acts like a seasoned pro, even though she’s only four, and she looks to be just getting started. After a solid break following her massive autumn campaign, she’s gearing up for what’s to come this spring.
Stay tuned!
Cox Plate Potential
After her killer autumn run, this maturing mare screams “Cox Plate threat” louder than those cheering home Via Sistina in the race last year!
Laurie’s got himself an absolute weapon here.
She smashed it in the Group 1 Vinery Stud and then doubled down to secure her second Oaks trophy, and that puts her in rare company.
Her phenomenal winning streak that she’s out to extend in the Memsie, unbeaten Caulfield record, and with a solid prep lined up mean she’s bringing to the spring the right mix of form, guts and temperament for a Ladbrokes Cox Plate bid this October.
Don’t gloss over this one!
Final Word
Treasurethe Moment isn’t just showing up this spring, she’s strutting in with some serious swagger. Her historic Vinery – ATC Oaks double has been forgotten by no one, and she’ll be tougher as a four-year-old, which is kind of scary.
Her eight wins on the trot was down to class and ability, not luck, and Laurie’s gunning for more Group 1 glory.
She looked sharper than ever in her latest jump-out giving her the perfect foundation to keep going onwards and upwards and really level up to legend status.
You get the sense she’s got more in the tank and all signs point to a truly exciting campaign ahead – one where she could truly live up to her name.
Now, for a bit of fun….
Who Would Play Her in a Movie?
If you were to cast a movie about this star mare, the role would have to go to Jennifer Lawrence.
Lawrence has a proven track record of portraying powerful, determined, and often underestimated characters who rise to the occasion. This mirrors the mare’s journey from a promising filly to a dominant Group 1 winner, taking on all challenges in her path.
Just as Lawrence has a natural, unforced style on-screen, Treasurethe Moment’s powerful, sustained run is a thing of natural beauty. Lawrence’s ability to exude both an easy-going nature and fierce determination perfectly aligns with the mare’s professional and focused demeanour on the track.
Laurie’s mare’s impressive eight-race winning streak is a testament to her durability and class, a characteristic that mirrors Lawrence’s sustained success and ability to deliver a top-tier performance every time she’s in a lead role.
Lawrence’s talent and versatility are a perfect match for the mare’s racing style; she has shown she can perform over a mile or a staying trip, just as Lawrence can seamlessly transition between a comedy and a drama.
Treasurethe Moment’s pedigree, by the exciting sire Alabama Express, is the equine equivalent of Lawrence’s incredible natural talent, giving her the perfect foundation for her role as the new queen of the Australian turf.
Ultimately, Lawrence’s star power and ability to deliver a winning performance time and time again make her the only choice to play this truly special mare!
Stand by… and action!
With Treasurethe Moment an early fancy in plenty of upcoming Group 1 races in both Melbourne and Sydney, make sure you’re across all the major tracks with our Ladbrokes exclusive Punters’ Playbook Track Deep Dives!
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