Son of More Joyous Earns ‘Rising Stardom’ at Geelong

[Wandering Eyes]

More Sundays (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the second foal out of Australian champion and eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready), graduated by 2 1/2 lengths going 1100 metres at Geelong on Monday to be named a ‘TDN Rising Star’. Trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, the first-time starter is the second foal and second winner for his dam, following the 4-year-old Woman (Aus) (Frankel {GB}). The 2-1 chance, bred and raced by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud in New South Wales, charged up in between horses once the gates flew and established a half-length advantage through the early going. Still on top 600 metres from home, the green colt began to drift toward the stands in upper stretch, but, given a few right-handers from Jordan Childs, soon straightened out and delivered the goods, as Brutal Power (Aus) (The Factor) finished up well for bridesmaid honours.

“A big relief, I was a little bit nervous because you have a big opinion of horses like this and you always want them to run well,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes to Racing.com. “He looks smart today, he was very strong through the line, a bit green when Jordy actually asked him to actually go but once he gave him a couple over the bum, it all clicked late and he was really strong on the line. This will be the last time that you see him in the country, I think he’s a really nice horse, he could be a sneaky [G1] Caulfield Guineas chance. At home he’s always shown us really nice ability and he showed us today that he can do it on raceday.”

More Sundays, previously seen winning a trial at Rosehill in December, is followed by a yearling colt by Snitzel (Aus). More Joyous is out of G1 AJC Oaks heroine Sunday Joy (Aus) (Sunday Silence), a half-sister to Australian MG1SW Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}), while her second dam is G1 Queensland Oaks victress Joie Denise (Aus) (Danehill).

1st-Geelong, A$26,000, Bet365 Geelong Mdn Plate, 8-6, 3yo, 1100mT, 1:06.41, sl.
MORE SUNDAYS (AUS), 128, c, 3, Fastnet Rock (Aus)
                1st Dam: More Joyous (NZ) (Ch. Older Horse-Aus,
                       MG1SW-Aus, $4,506,154), by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Sunday Joy (Aus), by Sunday Silence
                3rd Dam: Joie Denise (Aus), by Danehill
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, A$14,300. Click for the Racing Australia chart, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Strawberry Hill Stud (Mgr: J D Singleton); B-Strawberry Hill Stud (NSW), T-David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig.

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