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Moriarty captured his first career Group 1 as he saluted in the $500,000 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old gelding dug deep in the home straight as he ran past the Grant Williams-trained Disposition in the shadows of the post with an official margin of 0.15 lengths separating the two at the end of the Kingston Town Classic.
It was a brilliant ride by the jockeys of the first two horses with champion Hong Kong-based hoop Douglas Whyte positioning Moriarty closer to the speed than the customary backmarker is used to.
In the final Group 1 event of the 2014 calendar year, Moriarty’s victory brought up win number eight for his prolific trainer at the elite level this season (2014/15) and there appears to be plenty more in store for Waller during the autumn when Royal Randwick plays host to The Championships.
Waller’s Group 1 winners this season comprise of Foreteller (Underwood Stakes), Sacred Falls (George Main Stakes), Junoob (The Metropolitan), He’s Your Man (Epsom Handicap), Amicus (Thousand Guineas), Brazen Beau (Coolmore Stud Stakes), Preferment (Victoria Derby) and Moriarty.
Whyte was quick to compliment the leading Sydney trainer post-race as he noted that drawing the inside barrier was a huge advantage for the $4.60 equal-favourite who had to carry 59kg in comparison to his co-favourite Disposition who carried just 52kg as a three-year-old under weight-for-age conditions.
“I think Chris Waller is just a genius, he produces his horses on race day in form, and it makes my job a lot easier,” Whyte told Perth Racing.
“I had a great run around and followed the right horse.
“The gate was a huge advantage because I was able to offset a lot of the weight.”
Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) winner Elite Belle finished 2.25 lengths away from the winner whilst a mirror image of that race unfolded with Smokin’ Joey and Fuchsia Bandana running fourth and fifth once again.
Moriarty brought up his 13th win from 52 starts as he took his career earnings beyond $1.6 million with his maiden Group 1 victory.
The son of Clodovil had previously contested nine events at the elite level for two minor placings prior to Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic triumph.
Source: racingbase.com