We don’t have to wait long for this week’s feature racing – Group 1 action kicks off at The Valley on Friday night!
The Moir Stakes is always a highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival, and kicks off a truly immense six weeks of action in Melbourne, as we wind towards the Manikato Stakes, Cox Plate and beyond.
Some of the season’s most exciting sprinters are engaged, and they feature below in my 2023 Moir Stakes Tips.
Suggested Bets
- 5 Units straight out #7 Imperatriz
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
I personally get the feeling that, if Imperatriz turns up on Friday, she just wins the Moir Stakes.
The talented Kiwi raider won four Group 1 races and several other features in his native New Zealand prior to her first trip to Australia in Autumn this year, and she added the William Reid to her CV.
Having returned to record a utterly dominant win in the McEwen Stakes over this route earlier this month, she clearly relishes the unique conditions at The Valley, and she’s going to take a power of beating again on Friday night.
Rothfire is also a previous winner at The Valley, and I thought he was good behind Imperatriz in the McEwen Stakes first-up.
It’s surprising that Rothfire hasn’t won more than one Group 1 race during his career, so has been his consistency at the highest level, and he placed in both the Kingsford-Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap during this year’s Winter Carnival.
He has won four times at this point of his preparation previously, and he certainly has the ability to be in the finish again.
There’s no denying that Asfoora is one of the classier runners in the 2023 Moir Stakes field, but she failed at her only other start at The Valley, so the jury is out on whether or not she handles the conditions.
The Flying Artie mare has otherwise been a very good galloper since debuting, winning seven of twelve and placing a further two times.
She returned to record and eye-catching win in Group 3 company at Caulfield and strips fitter for that hit-out.
Another galloper that has shown a key affiliation with The Valley is Perth sprinter Acromantula.
Acromantula has been a consistent performer for the Pearce stable throughout his career, but there’s no denying that he has gone to another level in 2023.
Having found form around the likes of Amelia’s Jewel in the nation’s west, the Written Tycoon glding finished third, beaten just over a head here on debut in the east, before winning the Listed Carlyon Stakes impressively.
He was luckless and a little flat in the McEwen Stakes last time out, but I am happy to forgive that run, and he should receive every chance under Craig Williams this week.