My Gladiola has finally conquered the Group 1 challenge, clinching victory in the Moir Stakes held at Sandown.

This year’s Group 1 sprint over 1000 metres, usually contested at Moonee Valley, was shifted to Sandown as The Valley undergoes essential reconstruction.

The 1000-metre weight-for-age contest proved to be a thrilling spectacle. My Gladiola ($9.50), with jockey Jamie Mott in the saddle, surged past Cavalry Girl ($8.50) in the closing stages to win by a short-neck. The $3 favourite, Natural Fling, trailed a further three-quarters of a length behind in third place.

Prior to this Saturday’s triumph, My Gladiola had finished second to Tentyris on two occasions in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Lightning Stakes (1000m), races that are both run on the straight track at Flemington.

Trainer John McArdle commented that it was fitting for My Gladiola to finally break through at the highest level.

“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.

“I did before the rain came, but all the team at home have done a great job with her.”

McArdle had contemplated scratching My Gladiola when the rain arrived during the early hours of Saturday morning, softening the track surface.

The trainer had been considering reserving the mare for the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.

“Thank God, I second guessed myself a little bit,” McArdle admitted.

“We were thinking about scratching and thankfully they put it up as a (soft) seven.

“If it had been an (heavy) eight, 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.

“Getting a good barrier we didn’t have to go as far back as we normally do and she’s got the job done.”

McArdle expressed that it was particularly pleasing to secure a Group 1 win alongside Mott.

“Motty has been our stable rider for a long time,” McArdle stated.

“When he was getting a couple of rides in the bush, we were putting him on in Group races with Humma Humma.

“I always said, ‘you stick with me, I’ll stick with you’ and we have. We’ve been close plenty of times and now we’ve done it.”

Mott, who achieved his fifth win at the highest level, shared his emotional experience in guiding My Gladiola home.

“Just to do it for John is just unbelievable,” Mott said.

“He’s had a Group 1 winner in the past and he’s loyal to me as a jockey, and I’ve loved working closely with him and his team.

“Obviously with her coming along, she’s been so special. (She was) yet to tick off that Group 1, but we knew she was good enough.

“I’m absolutely over the moon.

“My fifth Group I and I haven’t been this emotional (for the others), so it’s pretty special.”

Check out the betting sites for the upcoming racing season.