The Moir Stakes is the first pure sprinting Group 1 of the racing season, and it carries extra relevance this year given The Everest still has six slots open despite the race being only three weeks away.
While there are no sprinters in this field that qualify for “star” status, it is an even and worthy field that has been assembled.
The McEwen Stakes, held over the 1000m course at Moonee Valley as this race is, is always a key lead up, and the first four home from that race are all fronting up here.
Rothfire was the winner of the McEwen, giving the indication that he might be a force to be reckoned with after battling injury since his dominant junior days. He ran down the hardy Zoustyle, who is one of many Queensland sprinters that has been in flying form in Victoria over recent months.
Boom filly Coolangatta was third, and while she didn’t run poorly by any means, she didn’t justify the hype and was never winning from a long way out. The Inferno, forever running on, finished fourth after giving the field a start, and it’s hard to think he can turn the tables on those.
September Run is first-up, coming off an autumn where she fulfilled the promise from her three-year-old days, winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at the Valley, with another couple of Group 1 placings besides. 1000m tends to be short of her best though.
Paulele is also first-up, and adds another layer of intrigue being saddled up as a four-year-old for the first time. He was placed three times at Group 1 level against the older horses in April and May, without quite winning. But in those various races he did beat home some of the key rivals here – Rothfire, Zoustyle, September Run and Isotope.
(Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images)
Isotope has run some good races in her time, including a fourth in the Stradbroke early this year, but she was plain first-up at Caulfield, did pull up with an excuse. Her best is good enough, but is one of a few where you wonder whether 1000m might be too sharp.
Generation is the pick of the rest, similar to Paulele as an early season four-year-old, having been a consistent type in his younger days. He finished a couple of lengths behind September Run in the William Reid earlier this year, but returned well in The Heath first-up. Does he have enough tricks to beat them all over 1000m?
Bella Nipotina has been Group 1 competitive since transferring to the Maher and Eustace yard, give times finishing in the top five at the highest level. She has a powerful finish, and could certainly be in the finish here. She is coming off a win at this track and distance.
Mileva and Extremely Lucky filled the placings behind Bella Nipotina in the Carlyon, and aren’t really the types you’d be expecting to win a race like this. It’s second level form, but Extremely Lucky is certainly progressive and is the most untapped runner in the field.
Malkovich is the only other runner, as fast as they come out of the barriers, but tends not to be good enough at this level. A race will never want for speed with him engaged.
The big question here is whether you think Paulele can carry his impressive three-year-old form into his first start at four, and what price you want to get about him. Because if he does, he may well just win, especially drawn to get the right run.
Selections: 1.Paulele 2.Rothfire 3.Bella Nipotina 4.September Run
The Stutt Stakes is one of the key support features on the Moir Stakes program, always looking to unearth a promising type or two on the Caulfield Guineas trail.
The Exford Plate is the key form reference, with five of the more favoured runners coming from that race at Flemington two weeks ago.
Tijuana holds the aces from that race, finishing in front of the others, but also having run a placing behind Jacquinot and Aft Cabin in the McNeil two starts back. That’s the A-form in Victoria right now, and he’s very consistent.
Virtuous Circle has some pretty nice form around his two wins, even if he was at a big price both times and hasn’t been seen for five weeks. If he’s fit enough, there’s no reason he can’t figure.
Brosnan is a well-travelled young colt, bringing a different formline down from Sydney, having also placed at Group 1 level in Brisbane during the winter. It’s rare that type of horse doesn’t have an impact against what might be the second tier Melbourne form.
Foujita San has more wraps than he does wins, so needs to justify them. A few are coming from maiden class, but there’s not many here that would shock if they end up in the money.
Selections: 1.Tijuana 2.Virtuous Circle 3.Brosnan 4.He’s Heaven
The Stocks Stakes, for mares over 1600m, is usually a good form race, and can be followed throughout the spring.
Kissonallforcheeks holds the whip hand in the market, coming off a win in the Let’s Elope and excellent Victorian form since she transferred there from Perth. Her two wins in Melbourne have both been at Flemington, and she has impressed as a big track horse. Can that translate to Moonee Valley with a sticky draw? She might be unders.
Lady of Honour ran second to Kissonallforcheeks in that Let’s Elope after giving a nice kick, having won her previous start. She’ll lead this race, and be given every chance to own it with no other real speed engaged. She’s untried at a mile, so that’s the question mark, but will look the winner at some stage.
Glint of Hope and Daisies both returned well in the Let’s Elope and will appreciated the step up to 1600m more than most. They might just need one more, but have the class. Foxy Frida is ever-consistent in this type of race, and is generally a threat in whatever she contests.
Groovy Kinda Love is $51 but should be a third of that, if not a quarter. She’s a backmarker that keeps finding herself in on-pace dominated race, and may well run into that scenario again, but can certainly surprise if there’s more speed than there looks.
Selections: 1.Lady of Honour 2.Foxy Frida 3.Kissonallforcheeks 4.Groovy Kinda Love
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