News

Essaouira and More Joyous pay for buck-jumping antics

2nd Mar 2009

Herald Sun - Matt Stewart - Monday, 2 March 2009

ERRATIC two-year-olds Essaouira and More Joyous must stop buck-jumping if they are to take their place in next month's $3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes.

The trainers of both fillies have declared the Slipper still on the agenda, despite buck-jumping performances from both star fillies in two states on Saturday.

Essaouira, Lee Freedman's top Slipper contender, initially refused to race when the gates opened for her crucial springboard race to Sydney, the 1100m Chairman's Stakes at Caulfield.

While Essaouira finished the race after bucking her way out of contention early, Gai Waterhouse's warm Slipper favourite More Joyous put on a rodeo display the moment the field was released in the 1100m Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.

Freedman and Waterhouse are still keen to press on to the April 4 Slipper but are mindful their fillies must probably beat the ballot and leap-frog less gifted but higher-earning two-year-olds to make the field.

More Joyous has earned $62,000 from one start, a Rosehill win in January, and Essaouira has won just $18,363 from a maiden win under lights at Moonee Valley last month.

Waterhouse believes she can resurrect the More Joyous train wreck.

"She'll trial in 10 days' time then run in the Reisling Slipper Trial on March 21," Waterhouse said.

"If she doesn't make it to the Slipper, then that's fine because none of the fillies in her family has ever been up and running for the race before and she'll be a darn good filly at three and beyond."

While jockey Nash Rawiller claimed the filly's antics were caused by a shifting saddle, Waterhouse said she had no idea what went wrong.

"I'm not quite sure. She was saddled up the same as every other horse of mine," she said.

"It's a mystery. But I approached the stewards and asked if she could trial because, after a performance like that, she needs to trial and prove it won't happen again."

Freedman yesterday discussed two options for Essaouira with owner Darley Stud: trial in Melbourne or head straight to Sydney and roll the dice she can trial well and earn enough prizemoney by beating More Joyous in the Reisling at Rosehill.

"Trialling up there at least gives us a good gallop the Sydney way and gives us a better chance to target the Slipper," Freedman said.

Freedman was optimistic Essaouira's bucking display was a one-off. "But we want to get to the bottom of it, find out why. I can say there appears nothing physically wrong with her," he said.