PETER Moody believes this is the campaign that former import My Quest For Peace can make his mark. Moody said My Quest For Peace had the credentials to be a genuine Cox Plate contender, reports Racing Network.
He said that the former Luca Cumani-trained horse would begin his spring campaign in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400 m) at Caulfield on August 31.
My Quest For Peace is likely to have a three-week break between races with the Underwood and Caulfield Stakes likely to be his lead into the Cox Plate.
Moody said he has kept My Quest For Peace ticking over since his Queensland campaign.
“My Quest For Peace ran down the track in a Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke after drawing the car park,” Moody said.
Moody said he has no doubt that My Quest For Peace has the sharpness to be a key player in all the spring races.
“I can’t wait to get him to a mile and a quarter,” he said.
Moody said triple Group 1 winner Manighar is likely to kick off his spring in the Makybe Diva Stakes while French horse Kesampour may make his Australian debut in the Slickpix Stakes (1700 m) or wait until the Makybe Diva.
Kesampour finished 13th in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe last October at his most recent start. He was a Group 2 winner at Saint Cloud in May 2012.
“He’s ready to go, I’ll see how the handicapper treats him in the 1700 metre race,” Moody said.
Meanwhile, at Sportingbet Park today, Moody’s consistent mare Are There Any won the BMW Handicap after a few anxious moments.
“It looked a little ugly there for a minute whether she was going to get a run and then I’m not sure what happened at the 100 (metres) whether Jake dropped the reins or might have lost the irons.
“It made it a bit awkward, but it was a deserved win. She probably should have won her past two.”
Moody said Are There Any is likely to have a break with summer racing providing her with her best chance of earning black type.
He identified mares Stakes races during the Tasmanian carnival as the sort of target for the four-year-old.