Classic Victor Mountjoy Set for Stakes Assignment in 2026

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Whatever Mountjoy achieves for the remainder of the current campaign will be viewed as a bonus, but the Ballarat filly is being given her opportunity for a lucrative Stakes victory this Saturday in Adelaide.

The Henry Dwyer-trained two-year-old is scheduled to contest the $120,000 David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) on the Morphettville Parks circuit.

Mountjoy was prepared for the $125,000 Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill earlier this month, an event in which she emerged as the narrow but impressive victor over Fontein Jewel. Dwyer commented that the chance for Listed success while the filly was in such formidable form was too compelling to pass up.

“The horse she beat at Swan Hill came out and won at Flemington the other day, so her form is good,” Dwyer said.

“She can definitely run a place, if not win, and she’s a well-bred filly that would be worth plenty if she could win over there.”

Mountjoy is a progeny of Street Boss and the Redoute’s Choice mare Lorne, whom Dwyer acquired for NZ$150,000 at last year’s Karaka Yearling Sale.

Dwyer initially had ambitions for Mountjoy to compete in the Karaka Millions, but a setback prevented this. Nevertheless, she could be poised for a trip to the same meeting next year if she performs admirably on Saturday.

“We’re going pretty deep into the winter with her running this week and I reckon she probably wants a decent break, so we might even try to get her over to New Zealand for the Karaka Millions three-year-old race,” he said.

“We wanted to get her there for the two-year-old race, but we might just be a year behind.”

Mountjoy is not Dwyer’s solitary hope in the Oaklands Plate, with And There You Go, a daughter of Hellbent who finished third at her sole start at Donald, set to accompany her to Adelaide.

“She surprised us a little bit running so well, it was an open-age maiden and she got home pretty well and nearly won,” Dwyer said.

“I think that’s more than enough to go against those two-year-olds over there, so it wouldn’t surprise if she was to run a placing.”

And There You Go drew the more favourable barrier of Dwyer’s pair, securing gate four, whereas Mountjoy will commence from the outside alley in the 14-horse field.

The Adelaide-based Price brothers have been engaged to ride Dwyer’s fillies, with Will Price assigned to Mountjoy and Ben Price to And There You Go.

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