Dylan Browne McMonagle made the right choice among Joseph O’Brien’s five runners in the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes, guiding Je Zous to a standout victory at Gowran.
Taking the lead halfway through, McMonagle opted for an unconventional route along the near side rail instead of following the traditional path off the home bend. This tactical decision paid off; while One Look and Caught U Looking battled in the centre, Je Zous (17-2) surged ahead on the rail to win by a length and three-quarters.
The remaining four O’Brien runners finished at the back of the pack in the Group Three race, and Je Zous may soon be heading overseas.
"She’s a good filly with solid performances this year, and today she was dropping down in class," said O’Brien. "It’s great to win a Group race with her, given her consistency. I thought it was a very competitive race beforehand. Her fifth in the Ribblesdale at Ascot was impressive, and she truly deserved this win. Dylan gave her a great ride."
With New Zealand-based owners, O’Brien indicated that Je Zous will be heading to Australia at some point. "We’ll see if she has another run here before that," he added. "The ground has been well watered today, and they’ve done an excellent job with the going."