Larajay Farm landed its first Group 1 success for an elated Alabar Syndicate tonight as Momentslikethese (pictured) claimed the TAB Queensland Oaks at Albion Park.

Driven by Luke McCarthy, the daughter of Alabar’s superstar stallion Art Major produced a moment that connections will never forget as she scorched up the Albion Park straight.

For trainer Jess Tubbs it was her first top-flight success – a momentous occasion that will be celebrated once lockdown has finished, as Larajay Farm tweeted: “Everyone better watch out after lockdown ends because it sounds like her owners are ready to PARTYYYY!!!!”

McCarthy sent Momentslikethese to the breeze from midfield in the running line with a lap to go before the daughter of Mint Julep scooted clear at the top of the straight and just had to hold off one last charge from an emerging threat in Michael Stanley’s Soho Broadway to claim the trophy.

Soho Broadway got within a head to make it a Victorian quinella, but the night belonged to Momentslikethese, rating 1:55.7 for the 2138m trip.

It was the filly’s seventh win at start No.25 and took her stake earnings to over $146,000. Incredibly consistent, Momentslikethese has only finished outside the top four on four occasions in her career so far.

Earlier American Dealer won the TAB Queensland Derby for trainer Ray Green and champion reinsman Anthony Butt, with Terang’s Bettor Call Me running fourth from a tough barrier 12 draw.

Fellow Victorians Bondi Lockdown (fifth), Bar Room Banta (eighth) and Lamandier (11th) also contested the Derby.

The night’s feature event, the TAB Blacks A Fake Championship, was an eventful affair with long odds-on favourite King Of Swing jumping off stride early and losing stacks of ground, eventually finishing third behind super mare Amazing Dream (pictured), who won the race, and $151 outsider Rockin Marty in second place.

Tough Monarch won the Group 1 Maer Group Queensland Trotters Cup with Butt in the sulky for trainer Ricky Alchin, with Victorian star Pink Galahs finishing third for Craven.

 

Pictures courtesy of Racing Queensland