Racing: Derby Day luck continues for Moroney

Steven Arnold and So You Think winning the Mackinnon Stakes. Photo / Getty Images

The Mike Moroney-trained Brazilian Pulse is the new VRC Oaks favourite after enduring a wide run and toughing it out to win the Wakeful Stakes.

The Captain Rio filly is still in her initial racing preparation and is yet to finish out of a place in five starts which have yielded three wins.

Brazilian Pulse was coming off a third to Yosei and Heartsareforlove in the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) and before that had finished second to Sistine Angel in the Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes.

"She had a couple of barrier trials in New Zealand as a late 2-year-old then we put her aside and brought her across here."

Moroney's brother Paul paid only $26,000 for Brazilian Pulse as a yearling after keeping tabs on her for some time.

Craig Williams landed a winning double in the first three races on Derby Day when he guided Brazilian Pulse ($4.40 fav) to a 1 length win in the Group Two 2000m feature from Placement ($17) with Heartsareforlove ($15) a short half-head away third.

Earlier Williams won the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Mr Chard.

Brazilian Pulse is now $3.70 favourite for Thursday's Victoria Oaks (2500m) and Moroney said while her sire was by sprinter Pivotal she was stoutly bred on the dam's side.

"This has been a great day for us, we've won Saabs [Brew and Maythehorsebewithu] and Derbys [Second Coming and Monaco Consul] and now this filly here," Moroney said.

So You Think continued his unbeaten run through the spring carnival with a decisive Mackinnon Stakes win.

So You Think destroyed his weight-for-age rivals to confirm his standing as Australia's best racehorse.

It's now all systems go towards the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday for which So You Think is one of the favourites.

With Bart Cummings in hospital So You Think provided the master trainer with an ideal pick-me-up.

Jockey Steven Arnold had So You Think in fourth place until approaching the home turn.

The New Zealand-bred High Chaparral entire joined the leaders at the 300-metres before shooting clear to beat home Descarado and New Zealander Ginga Dude.

- AAP