By Ben Triandafillou
CAULFIELD trainer, John Moloney, has defied the odds in the $2 Million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on 14 January, with the $101 blowout, Flying Jess.
Flying Jess defeated the previously unbeaten Winning Rupert as well as dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour for a breakthrough victory.
Brilliantly ridden by Tye Angland, Flying Jess swooped late to defeat Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Global Glamour ($8) by a neck and hold off the fast finishing Eckstein ($12) whose four straight wins came to an end.
Unable to run the tough seven furlongs out, the odds-on favourite, Winning Rupert ($1.70), faded late to finish fourth, two lengths away.
Long due for a win, Flying Jess stormed home to break her long drought after having not won since last year’s Group Three SA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville Parks.
After a resilient fourth, two starts back at Sandown on 12 November last year, when held three to four wide the entire race, Flying Jess looked like a chance in the 3YO Guineas.
With a perfectly mapped race and a change in gear, John Moloney felt confident his filly would run a good race but would have to overcome a strong field.
“The blinkers have really turned around her form,” said John Moloney.
“I thought she could get to the top five, so in consideration to that I thought she may have been a bit over the odds.”
Flying Jess, by Hinchinbrook out of Maritess, was bought at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale for $60,000 and has now taken her career earnings to $1,296,430.
Flying Jess has provided John with a million-dollar race win and one of John’s biggest victories, alongside his win in the, then Group Two, now Group One, Queen of the Turf Stakes with Casual in 1985.
“I think it matches it, it was pretty significant because of the amount of kudos we got out of the race as well as the prize money we got, so it definitely equalled it.”
The Parkdale resident is part of a well-respected family dynasty dating back to the 1930’s with horse trainer, Jerry Moloney, who made his mark in the racing industry winning the Grand Annual at Warrnambool in 1934.
John’s father, the late Jim (James) Moloney, also had a remarkable career in horse racing, having outstanding success from his famous Epsom training complex in Mordialloc. The Hall of Fame trainer led a multitude of talented thoroughbreds to Group One glory, including his star sprinter and arguably one of Australia’s greatest, Vain.
Following in their father’s footsteps, John and brother Gerard Moloney, head up the Moloney Racing stables from their training base, Vain Lodge, at Caulfield.
The Moloney’s utilise their 100 years of combined experience to keep their thoroughbreds in fine condition and prepare them for raceday, often taking advantage of the fresh Mordialloc Beach.
“It helps them with recovery and gets there legs in order; it gives them a good feature,” said John Moloney.
With an impressive start to the year the Moloney’s are hoping to keep the ball rolling and have purchased another filly by Hinchinbrook at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale last week in hopes to replicate this year’s exceptional victory.
Flying Jess will stay in Queensland for a few weeks before being sent back down to the Moloney’s stables where she’ll be targeted for a race in Sydney over the autumn carnival.
John is hopeful that the filly can keep up her flying form and be competitive in some strong autumn races.
