The $350,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, run tomorrow at Rosehill in Sydney, offers a shot at redemption for Peter Moody and Moment of Change, reports Racing Victoria.
The champion trainer is desperate to see the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner log another Group 1 win after a pair of elite-level second placings to start his campaign.
The first was a fine second to champion stablemate Black Caviar in the great mare's own race - the Black Caviar Lightning, on 16 February - before a gutsy narrow defeat in the Newmarket Handicap on 9 March.
The son of Barely A Moment carried 56.5kg in the Newmarket - 5kg more than winner Shamexpress - and was only run down late after leading for most of the 1200m event.
Friday, March 22, 2013
The $350,000 Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, run tomorrow at Rosehill in Sydney, offers a shot at redemption for Peter Moody and Moment of Change, reports Racing Victoria.
The champion trainer is desperate to see the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner log another Group 1 win after a pair of elite-level second placings to start his campaign.
The first was a fine second to champion stablemate Black Caviar in the great mare's own race - the Black Caviar Lightning, on 16 February - before a gutsy narrow defeat in the Newmarket Handicap on 9 March.
The son of Barely A Moment carried 56.5kg in the Newmarket - 5kg more than winner Shamexpress - and was only run down late after leading for most of the 1200m event.
"He's absolutely flying," Moody said. "He was a tragedy beaten in the Newmarket.
"But the way he went about it was great. He was the hunted rather than the hunter and he's come on from that race well."
Moment of Change will accompany Stradbroke Handicap-winning stablemate Mid Summer Music as Moody-trained runners in a mouth-watering debut edition of the 1300m event at Group 1 level.
Waiting for Moody's pair will be glamour Gai Waterhouse-trained duo More Joyous and Pierro, who will clash for the first time.
Moody respects the Waterhouse pair, who between them have tasted defeat just once in their past 24 starts in Sydney, but is confident in his charge's ability.
"He'll know he's in a race, but I reckon they'll know he's there too," Moody declared.
Moody is represented in one of the day's other Group 1 events with Manighar to defend his crown in the $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
The veteran import will be second-up since beating home just one rival in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on 9 March, but Moody is confident of an improved showing.
"The 2000 metres is ideal and with (Luke) Nolen back on, he can turn it around," he said. "Whether he can turn it around enough to win (this week) I'm not sure, but he'll certainly be competitive."
Mawingo (Anthony Freedman) is the other Victorian in a Ranvet, following the scratching of the Peter Gelagotis-trained Mourinho, with Victoria Derby winners Fiveandahalfstar and Sangster, classy Kiwi mare Silent Achiever and Peter Young Stakes winner Foreteller also engaged.
Rounding out the Group 1s at Rosehill is the $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m), in which the Mathew Ellerton/Simon Zahra-trained Star of Giselle will carry Victoria's hopes against the likes of Streama, Red Tracer, Steps In Time, Appearance, Dear Demi, Norzita, Flying Snitzel and Bennetta.
The Rosehill card also features a couple of Golden Slipper lead-ups, including the $300,000 Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m), in which unbeaten Victorian filly Villa Verde, who is trained by Shaun Dwyer at Bendigo, will clash with Golden Slipper favourite Overreach.
www.racingvictoria.net.au