Sydney racing showed it was finally back to normal with
Gai Waterhouse celebrating her first Group One winner for the season when Tuesday Joy won the Ranvet Stakes at Canterbury.
The win was also a triumph for prominent owner John Singleton who snapped up Darren Beadman to ride the mare and the champion jockey made his trip from Hong Kong more than worthwhile to record his second Group One on Tuesday Joy after riding her to success in last year's Coolmore Classic.
In the jubilation that followed the victory, Singleton started dreaming of Europe's best race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, after Beadman suggested the race would be a good target later this year.
"The BMW and the Arc, that's something to think about," Singleton said.
"If Darren can ride in Paris, we should go there.
"She is the perfect horse, she has the perfect breeding and he is the perfect jockey."
Punter also warmed to the Beadman factor and Tuesday Joy was sent out the $3.10 favourite ahead of New Zealander Princess Coup at $3.80, and that's how they finished with 1-3/4 lengths between them.
Last year's winner Desert War did the work up front as expected and held on well for third, a long head behind Princess Coup.
"That was sensational," Waterhouse said.
"She is so consistent and has always been there in Group One company.
"I was surprised when I looked at her form today and saw she's only won two races, I always thought she had won six or seven."
Singleton believes she should have won a lot more and has been critical of her former jockey Danny Beasley over the past week.
But that was forgotten as he watched Beadman bring Tuesday Joy back to the enclosure.
"I have known Darren since he was about 13 or 14," he said.
"But in recent years when I wanted him to ride for me, he was committed to Bob Ingham's horses and now he's in Hong Kong."
Beadman will be back in two weeks to ride the mare again in the BMW which is also the target for Princess Coup who has been placed in four Group One races since being stranded in Australia when equine influenza broke out - the Caulfield Cup, Mackinnon Stakes, Australian Cup and Ranvet.
"She was a bit tardy away and gave away too much start but you can't take anything away from the winner," trainer Mark Walker said.
Her jockey Damien Oliver said he believed Princess Coup would be much better suited by the bigger Rosehill track, scene of the BMW (2400m) in two weeks.
Desert War will not be tested over the long trip and will instead be set for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on May 3.
"That's the race he's been set for," Gooree syndicate manager Andrew Baddock said.
"It was a great effort and he showed he still wants to do it."
The disappointment of the race was Sirmione, who won the Mackinnon and Australian Cup but was never in the race after getting a long way back early.
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