Loving Gaby Lands First Group 1 in Manikato Stakes

Phoenix Thoroughbreds enjoyed a first group 1 success in Australia Oct. 25 as the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Loving Gaby powered home to land the AU$1.015 million (US$693,347) Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (G1) at Moonee Valley.

Eustace, son of Newmarket trainer James, celebrated a third top-level triumph since joining the training ranks with Maher in July last year after Loving Gaby prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Vital Silver under Craig Williams.

It was a first group 1 win for Loving Gaby, a daughter of I Am Invincible, who twice finished second in the highest company last season.

Odds-on favorite Bivouac could not handle the early pace and never figured in the race to finish sixth.

"It's an absolute pleasure to be involved with these top-level horses, and I feel very lucky to be part of an amazing team," Eustace said. "Loving Gaby is very good, and we've always had huge faith in her. She's been knocking on the door at group 1 level, so this means a lot. She's versatile regarding trip but she's not the easiest to train and requires a big team effort.

"To have a big winner on a night like tonight during the Spring Carnival is very special. I'm sure my parents will be very proud at home, and they're always the first to text when we have a winner crossing the line."

Rachel King, former amateur jockey and racing secretary for Clive Cox in Britain, was among the winners on the card when she gave the Mark Newnham-trained Greysful Glamour a perfect, frontrunning ride in the 1 1/4-mile fillies' handicap.

Newnham played a key role in persuading King to take out a license in Australia and Gai Waterhouse's former assistant has significantly backed her since he started training.

They enjoyed a first group 1 success with Maid Of Heaven in the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last year and it is a partnership that continues to blossom.

"Rachel was at Gai's when I was assistant and I pushed for her to get a go. I saw her natural ability early on and horses just really run for her—that was poetry in motion tonight," said Newnham, who was enjoying a winner with his first runner at Moonee Valley. "The girls are accepted here and I don't look at it any other way than picking the jockey that suits the horse. Gender doesn't worry me either way. I watch a lot of races in Britain and you don't see a lot of the girls riding but here we're nearly at about a third of jockeys being female.

"They're accepted as jockeys, rather than female jockeys, and that's how it should be."