The spring in Sydney may have another star attraction. If the career to date for Well Written has been defined by unbroken success, the path for My Gladiola to group 1 triumph Sept. 5 has instead been characterized by some near misses at racing's highest level. Few horses have been more deserving of a breakthrough. The Kia Ora Stud bred-and-sold mare had spent virtually her entire career campaigning in stakes company and had repeatedly demonstrated her class against some of Australia's best sprinters.
On Saturday, she finally got her moment.
Traditionally staged at Moonee Valley Racecourse, the Moir Stakes (G1) was transferred to Sandown Racecourse this season as The Valley undergoes its significant redevelopment, and the 1,000-meter (about 5-furlong) weight-for-age contest attracted a field dominated by high class fillies and mares.
My Gladiola ($9.50), partnered by her regular rider Jamie Mott, proved too tough overhauling Cavalry Girl in the shadows of the post to prevail by a short neck, with 3-year-old favorite, Natural Fling another three-quarters of a length away in third.
It was a victory that had been more than 18 months in the making. From the time My Gladiola won the Blue Diamond Preview (G3) on debut as a 2-year-old, trainer John McArdle has rarely taken the easy option with the talented gray. She has subsequently competed against elite company almost exclusively, building an admirable record without quite managing to secure the group 1 victory that her consistency suggested she deserved.
Perhaps most notably, she twice ran into Tentyris at Flemington Racecourse, finishing runner-up to him in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) and Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1).
Both performances demonstrated My Gladiola belonged at the highest level. On Saturday, she finally had the result to prove it.
"She has run against the best her entire career," McArdle said. "We ran second to Tentyris a couple of times, in incredible times, and she was deserving of this, but I didn't think it was going to be today. All the team at home have done a great job with her."
Indeed, My Gladiola came surprisingly close to not taking her place at all. Rain in the early hours of Saturday pushed the Sandown surface into the soft range and had McArdle contemplating withdrawing the mare and instead heading to Sydney for The Shorts (G2) Sept. 19 at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The trainer ultimately allowed My Gladiola to take her chance after the track was rated a Soft 7, with improving weather throughout the day helping dry the surface sufficiently.
"Thank God I second guessed myself a little bit," McArdle said. "We were thinking about scratching and thankfully they put it up as a (Soft) 7. If it had been a (Heavy) 8, we may not have been here. Things went her way today. The wind and the sun dried the track out a bit, and Jamie gave her a great ride."
