Spring racing bursts into life this Saturday at The Valley with the electrifying Group 1 Moir Stakes headlining a stacked program of elite sprinting contests.
This year’s Moir Stakes field is brimming with talent: Baraqiel, fresh off a Carlyon Stakes win, returns alongside familiar rivals like Midwest, Golden Boom, and New York Lustre. Add in the classy mare Niance, Kiwi star Alabama Lass and interstate raiders like Rothfire, Payline and Jedibeel, and you’ve got a race that promises fireworks from the jump.
Supporting features on the 10-race card include the McKenzie Stakes, Atlantic Jewel Stakes, and Chautauqua Stakes, all at Listed level.
Now, let’s uncover who’s primed to scorch the turf at The Valley and pinpoint the Moir Stakes Day runners most likely to salute.
GODTFRED KIRK (2) impressed two starts ago when storming home down the outside to win over 1400m on the Lakeside track to break his maiden status.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained gelding enjoyed a nice run over this course and distance last start but couldn’t get clear air and was climbing over their backs when finishing 1.66 lengths fourth.
He really should have threatened for the win and now at peak fitness meets several of the same horses.
The rail moving back to the true position aids his cause and I expect him to enjoy a great run.
| 2. Godtfred Kirk (2) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 514T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
SAVILLA (6) returned in great order last start over 1400m at Sale with a win.
The Team Hayes-trained mare raced outside the lead before letting down strongly and stoically holding off the closers to salute by just under a length.
She’ll take benefit from the run and has won both her previous second-up races which were over this distance.
Blake Shinn takes the ride and should land in a prominent position from barrier 2.
| 6. Savilla (2) J: Blake Shinn 57.5kg 614×1T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
PRESSER (7) didn’t have the best of luck when resuming two starts ago but bounced back last start over 1400m on the Lakeside track.
The Gavin Bedggood-trained gelding was held up a touch but burst through the pack to hit the front only to be swamped on the line by Justadeel to finish a head second.
With two wins and a third from three third-up runs, he looks set to peak here.
He could not have been more impressive when winning his only previous start over this course and distance by three lengths when closing out last preparation.
| 7. Presser (6) J: Beau Mertens 55kg 21×62T: Gavin Bedggood |
LINCOLN ROCKS (2) returned in decent fettle last start and looks set to improve significantly second-up.
The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding was held up entering the straight but worked well in the closing stages to finish 3.25 lengths sixth over a mile here.
He’s likely to relish the step up in distance and would boast a perfect record from three runs over this course and trip if not for a defeat by a lip.
This is a drop in class and he’ll carry just 1kg more than last start thanks to the claim for Ryan Houston.
| 2. Lincoln Rocks (9) J: Ryan Houston 61.5kg 039×6T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
ANGEL CAPITAL (3) returns to the races for new trainer Chris Waller.
The son of Harry Angel does his best work fresh having won three of four first-up races.
One of those fresh wins came on this day last year when he settled last in the Listed McKenzie Stakes over this distance before sweeping around the field and letting down powerfully to win impressively.
Damian Lane will give him every chance from barrier 2.
| 3. Angel Capital (2) J: Damian Lane 56kg 16x1xT: Chris Waller |
SPACE RIDER (1) returned in magnificent order last start with a win over this course and distance.
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained Zoustar colt settled handy before producing an electric turn of foot to charge home and win by just under a length.
He suffered from slow recovery when a long odds on favourite at his previous second-up start but I’m expecting another bold showing from him here especially with him getting in well under the set weight conditions of the race.
Mick Dee takes the ride and will look to settle in a forward position.
| 1. Space Rider (5) J: Michael Dee 57kg 14×1T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
ALFA SOFIE (8) is having her first start for the Moody & Coleman stable after previously racing with talented horseman Jason Edwards in Brisbane.
The Capitalist filly couldn’t have started this preparation in more impressive fashion when she made a run from 800m out to storm home and win over 1200m at Eagle Farm.
She backed that up last start with another dominant display to comfortably win again at Eagle Farm.
Since arriving at Pakenham, she’s had a jump out where she customarily showed her powerful finish to charge through the line.
A likely strong speed will aid her cause.
| 8. Alpha Sofie (4) J: Zac Spain 56kg 411T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
DESERT LIGHTNING (4) returned in great order last start in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes when finishing two lengths second to the extremely well-placed Private Eye.
The Moody & Coleman-trained gelding will be fitter for the run and won the Group 3 Sandown Stakes over this distance when second-up last preparation.
He oozes talent having won at Group 1 level in New Zealand and finishing a close fourth in this year’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
Luke ‘Trumby’ Nolen is back riding after a long break and should be able to settle in a prominent position.
| 4. Desert Lightning (9) J: Luke Nolen 58.5kg 024×2T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
ALABAMA LASS (12) returns to Australia for the Group 1 Moir Stakes after impressively winning the Listed World Pool Sprint Classic up the Flemington straight during the autumn.
The Ken & Bev Kelso-trained mare boasts an impressive record of six wins from nine starts and while she has never won at Group 1 level, she did finish a nose second in the Group 1 Railway and second in the unsuitable 1000 Guineas over a mile.
She warmed up for this with an impressive trial win against some of New Zealand’s best horses prior to crossing the Tasman.
Armed with awesome speed, Craig Williams should be able to land in a gun spot from the low draw.
| 12. Alabama Lass (3) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg x211xT: Ken & Bev Kelso |
KING ZEPHYR (3) resumes for the first time after not enjoying the deteriorating conditions in the Listed Straight Six in May.
The Grahame Begg-trained gelding had set the world on fire prior to that with four consecutive wins.
He races well fresh, having won both his first-up races and looks well placed to keep that undefeated record following several tantalising pieces of work at the jump outs and trials.
The dry track will be to his liking and I’m expecting him to finish our day at The Valley on a high.
| 3. King Zephyr (3) J: Jordan Childs 59kg 1110xT: Grahame Begg |