Racing: Joyous rated better than Sunline

Corey Brown. Photo / Getty Images

Corey Brown thinks More Joyous is the best horse he has ever ridden after the mare's demolition job on her rivals in yesterday's Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.

It was high praise from one of the country's leading jockeys who has won most of Australia's big races including the Melbourne Cup, but he didn't back down.

"She is by far the best horse I've ever ridden," Brown said.

"There would be a few get close but she was going better after the line than before.

"She is explosive and would be even better if she had something to chase."

Brown was filling in for the suspended Nash Rawiller and said he would be more than happy to do so again.

That might be difficult with Rawiller due back in time to ride the Epsom Handicap favourite in the Group One race on October 2.

More Joyous ($2.15 fav) jumped straight to the front in the 1400m Theo Marks and was never challenged, going to the line easing down 3 lengths ahead of Rothesay ($3.50) with Drumbeats ($14) a head away third.

In contrast to trainer Gai Waterhouse who was calm, owner John Singleton was shaking after the race.

"It's unbelievable," Singleton said. "Gai said she would take control of the race and nothing would touch her.

"Gai said last week she was better than Sunline."

After the Epsom, More Joyous will tackle the Cox Plate on October 23.

Her record of eight wins from 11 starts is testament to the ability Waterhouse has always known she possesses.

But there were hiccups when as a lightly-framed filly she put on a buckjumping display in the Silver Slipper and the saddle slipped. She beat just one runner home in the 2009 Golden Slipper.

More Joyous came back as a 3-year-old last spring to claim the Group One Flight Stakes and won the Light Fingers and Surround Stakes.

More Joyous firmed from $18 to $11 with TAB Sportsbet for the Cox Plate. So You Think is the favourite ahead of yesterday's Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Whobegotyou at $6 and third-placed Shoot Out at $8.

More Joyous gave Waterhouse her third winner of the day after Pureness and stayer Herculian Prince who confirmed his favouritism for The Metropolitan.

- AAP