Why Treasurethe Moment’s Oaks is more special to Yulong than Via Sistina’s Cox Plate

Vin Cox suspects that Treasurethe Moment’s VRC Oaks triumph might just be more special than Via Sistina’s dominant Cox Plate romp.

The owner of Yulong Investments, Mr Yuesheng Zhang, saw both thoroughbreds pick up classic spring victories as the green and white checked silks asserted dominance on the Melbourne carnival.

Via Sistina grabbed the majority of the racing headlines with her record-breaking Cox Plate win at Moonee Valley, especially after she dumped jockey James McDonald at Breakfast with the Stars in the lead-up.

You could be forgiven for thinking that was Yulong’s greatest triumph, but the win of talented filly Treasurethe Moment could just outweigh Via Sistina’s momentous eight-length demolition job.

Gareth Hall asked Yulong’s general manager Cox if he believes the Cox Plate win of Via Sistina was Mr Zhang’s biggest day in racing.

“At that time (it was), but I think it was surpassed on Oaks Day when Treasurethe Moment won,” Cox said on SENTrack’s Giddy Up.

Cox explained how the daughter of Alabama Express and Draconic Treasure, who was bred by Mr Zhang, avoided tragedy during the floods that hit Yulong’s Nagambie stud in 2022.

“He (Zhang) bought Treasurethe Moment’s mum (Draconic Treasure) as a yearling in Kentucky, raced her and she won a maiden, (but was) no star,” he continued.

“He brought her out here (to Australia), put her to his own stallion Alabama Express and raised her on the farm.

“She survived the floods at the end of 2022, was rescued out of the floods, then we put her into training and voila, she turns up and wins a classic, a blue riband event in the VRC Oaks.

“You might have noticed he led her back in, he’d never done that before, that’s the first time I’ve seen him do that.

“That was, I think, from his personal perspective - I can’t speak for him obviously - but just my observation is that was what really gave him a big thrill.”

Cox added: “Treasurethe Moment was a survivor of the floods and a VRC Oaks winner.

“She was plucked out of the rising flood waters. It’s a stunning story.”

The Matt Laurie-trained filly, who was ridden by Damian Lane in both her Wakeful stakes and Oaks victories, has so far won five races (including four in a row) and placed twice from seven career starts.

She has won over a $1 million in prize money for Yulong.

Listen to the full chat with Vin Cox from Yulong below: