The final World Pool meeting of 2023, Victoria Derby Day from Flemington, delivered in spades with a slew of memorable races and thrilling finishes.
The feature, the G1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m), went to Riff Rocket in the tightest of finishes, while the G1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) was taken out by Pride Of Jenni after a daring ride from jockey Declan Bates.
The World Pool Moment of the Day, though, was awarded to G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner OZZMOSIS. The flashy son of Zoustar stayed on strongly down the straight to defeat I Am Unstoppable and Shinzo in a contest that has, in the past, proven a reliable pointer to the future of Australia's sprinting ranks.
Trained by Bjorn Baker, the three-year-old is owned by a large group of syndicate members through Darby Racing and was ridden by Rachel King, the first female rider to win the race in its long history.
Ozzmosis' groom Olivea Staveley was rewarded with an AUD$8,000 prize.
"I've been given so many great opportunities by my boss Bjorn and his racing manager Luke (Hilton) and it is thanks to the great team that we got the chocolates today," Staveley, a Brit based in Sydney, said. "This is for all of them and we will certainly be celebrating his win tonight, it's really a team effort and I'm just one part of that.
"This is a great prize, I need to move house so it might go towards that! But this is another great opportunity and thank you to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the award."
Staveley is now in the running to win a trip to Hong Kong next year should Ozzmosis' victory be selected as the World Pool Moment of the Year.
Voting on the World Pool Moment of the Year will begin next week and details will be announced shortly.
The final World Pool Moment of the Day for 2023 goes to Ozzmosis’s strapper Olivea Staveley.