McMonagle charts rail route to glory.
Je Zous put on a super display to land Group Three salutes in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes at Gowran, as jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle carved out what was the winning strategy by keeping her to the near side rail. At the training front, Joseph O'Brien made the most of it by bringing his charge out near the side.
The way McMonagle planned that race was nothing less than brilliant. At the halfway point in the mile, while the rest of the running was his to take, rather than coming off the home bend down the track like everyone else, this brilliant young jockey steered Je Zous across the track to the near side rail. This unusual maneuver left just One Look and Caught U Looking fighting for what seemed to be going to be a tight finish up the middle of the track. But as they scuffled for the position, Je Zous had long crossed the bright line with wiggle room to spare.
It was a notable day for Joseph O'Brien, too, with five runners under his care. While Je Zous stole the headlines, trainer Joseph's other four horses made up the last four places in the lineup. For O'Brien, it was a well-deserved success for the consistency of the filly during the season and he praised to the full both the horse and the rider. "She's a good filly, and her runs have been very solid this year," said a delighted O'Brien after the race. "She was dropping down in class today, so it's nice to see her get the win she deserved.
Her run in the Ribblesdale at Ascot was impressive, and this group race was wide open. Dylan gave her a great ride, and everything worked out perfectly." This result underlined Je Zous's potential for the highest level, but O'Brien observed she had always been consistent. Past efforts to Group Level had been impressive; the notable fifth in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot showcased the fruits of it all but this victory at Gowran was the payoff that had come from her sound form, and what a time it could not have come at.
With owners in New Zealand, Je Zous's future might well be full of new adventures overseas, possibly in Australia. Or perhaps that'll be racehorse resurrected. O'Brien was kept mum on whether the runner would resume her racing career or not. However, he confirmed that a journey to Australia is part of the owner's plans for her. "The owners are New Zealand-based, and she'll be heading to Australia at some stage," O'Brien confirmed. "Whether she has another run here before then, we'll have to see."
Conditions at Gowran were also a talking point, and O'Brien acknowledged the work of the track officials who had produced an ideal ground for the race. "The ground is well watered today, and they've done a very good job with it," he observed, remarking that the course was probably the preparation that helped Je Zous win on the day.
Je Zous's success adds another group-race feather to O'Brien's cap, but more importantly, it shows how much further the filly has been progressing and that she has been one of the most consistent performers in her division so far this year. For McMonagle, the victory consolidates even more his reputation as a jockey who can execute race-winning tactics in big-pressure situations.
Looking ahead, the connections of Je Zous have every reason to be optimistic about her prospects for the future, be it at home or abroad. Her versatility, demonstrated thus by her performance in varying ground conditions and at assorted levels of competition, augurs well for potential future campaigns in Australia. Whether or not she accepts another Group challenge in Europe beforehand waits to be seen, but for now, the team can savor this well-deserved success.
As Je Zous enjoys a belated breather after her latest win, there is much more than a hint that this very talented filly has much more to give. To win at Gowran was not only testimony to the skill and determination of the whole team but, equally, a triumph of careful planning and execution, two aspects that O'Brien's operation has become synonymous with over the years.
