Tivaci defies pattern in All Aged success

It’s a parting gift that’s hard to beat.

Stud-bound Tivaci snapped his Group One duck to win All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

In possibly his last start, the Mike Moroney-trained Tivaci surged from near last to snatch the weight-for-age feature from Le Romain by a neck.

He defied a trend of Randwick winners on Saturday being on the speed.

Veteran jockey Damien Oliver produced an unflustered ride to boost his Group One collection to 110i.

The four-year-old’s previous best result in a Group One was minor placings in the Cantala Stakes and Toorak Handicap.

“It’s terrific. He’s been placed in a lot of Group Ones, he deserved to get one here,” Moroney said.

“It’s very timely because it’s been widely speculated he’s going to stud.”

Moroney confirmed New Zealand’s Waikato Stud beckons but Queensland’s winter carnival might still be a possibility.

“We’ll have a bit of a meeting now as to whether we race on or whether he goes now,” he said.”

After a promising fourth placing in the TJ Smith Stakes, Moroney was confident the All Aged Stakes could supply a coveted Group One.

“I watched him on the course proper on Wednesday, and he galloped terrific. He was just glowing here today. I said to Ollie (Oliver) he’s as relaxed as I’ve seen him.”

Oliver, who won his first All Aged Stakes aboard Hurricane Sky in 1995, suggested Tivaci might warrant a trip north.

“He is an ideal sort of horse for those races (In Queensland), 1400 metres is a great trip for him.”

Last year’s winner English, the $3.70 favourite, finished sixth.

“She travelled super, loomed to win but when I let her down she just floundered in the going,” jockey Blake Shinn said.