Moriarty's brave win in today's Group 2 $200,000 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick now gives him a shot at a Group 1 race, reports Racing Network. Trainer Chris Waller says the Group 1 The Metropolitan has been the plan for Moriarty all preparation.
Moriarty was Waller's third winner for the day at Randwick and he declared it was the right time of the year to be winning races "with the big carnivals coming".
"This horse has been set for The Metropolitan and it looks the right race for him," he said after a classic ride from Nash Rawiller saw Moriarty score a strong win over last year's Metropolitan winner, Glencadam Gold.
"I must say I wasn't confident half way down the straight but he dug in and really ran the trip out," Rawiller said. "He's a beautiful stayer and he now goes to the Metropolitan and it's his opportunity to win a Group 1," he added.
Moriarty started the $2.80 favourite and beat Glencadam Gold ($5) by a half-length, with a head away to Masked Marvel ($20) in third place.