Racing: Waterhouse labels classy mare better than Sunline

More Joyous. Photo / Getty Images

New South Wales jockey Corey Brown labelled More Joyous the best horse he had ever ridden after the mare's demolition job on her rivals in Saturday'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 in the aftermath of the win.

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

"I've never ridden a horse like that.

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

"Any jockey who takes credit for a horse like that is fooling themselves.

"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 may 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 after the race, owner John Singleton was still shaking many minutes later.

"It's unbelievable," Singleton said.

"Gai said she would take control of the race and nothing would touch her.

"I wanted to enjoy it but it wasn't until the end that I could see there was nothing coming.

"Gai said last week she was better than Sunline. I don't know about that, I'm still shaking."

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

There were no excuses offered for her Theo Marks rivals with topweight Black Piranha the eye-catcher with his 4-length fourth under 60.5kg.

More Joyous firmed from $18 to $11 with TAB Sportsbet for the Cox Plate with So You Think favourite ahead of Saturdays' 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 emerging star Pureness and stayer Herculian Prince who confirmed his favouritism for The Metropolitan on Epsom day.

"She's a very, very, very good horse," Waterhouse said.

- AAP