Horse Racing
Moonrise shines brightest in Sirenia Stakes
Moonrise’s class came to the fore as she registered her second Group Three victory of the season in the William Hill Sirenia Stakes at Kempton Park.
Having missed the Lowther Stakes on account of soft ground at York, Andrew Balding turned to the all-weather with his Princess Margaret Stakes winner and she did not disappoint sent off at 11-4 in the hands of Oisin Murphy.
Although drawn wide, the champion jockey was confident from the off aboard the daughter of Churchill, making all for a three-and-three-quarter-length success that enhances her record to three wins from four, with her only defeat coming when touched off in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot.
Her delighted rider said: “She must be quite good because she had an outside draw and a 3lb penalty. She’s better with a lead following horses as she can be a bit ‘in your hands’, but Andrew has done a great job with her.
“She’s improved with every start and that was a brilliant performance. She wants top of the ground really on turf and she’s a very easy mover. Let’s see now what Andrew wants to do next.
“She’s a sprinter and I don’t think she needs to be going further, she’s plenty of speed.”
Moonrise won a ‘win and you’re in ticket’ to the Breeders’ Cup when winning her previous race at Ascot in late July, something that has previously been mentioned as a possibility by connections.
