Saturday, 16 June 2012: Mid Summer Music winning the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap proved to be the jewel in the crown for Peter Moody who also claimed the QLD Derby and Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

The six-year-old mare left punters stunned following the Stradbroke Handicap, putting a last start failure in the Doomben 10,000 behind her as she claimed a 1.8 length success.

Unwanted in betting, Mid Summer Music claimed a maiden Group 1 success at the generous odds of 30-1.

Her winning performance yielded a Timeform rating of 121, a figure which was a staggering 10 pound improvement on her prior career best run.

As a rising seven-year-old, it would have been considered unlikely the Oamaru Force mare could improve so drastically on her peak rating last campaign of 110 achieved when third in the Patinack Farm Classic behind stablemate Black Caviar.

Mid Summer Music however went to a new level last Saturday and ran a figure which sits on par with the Stradbroke Handicap's previous five year winning average.

Sincero also ran to a figure of 121 when he took out the 2011 renewal.

With most mares well and truly in line for broodmare duties during their five and six-year-old seasons, it will be interesting to see if connections retire Mid Summer Music on a high or continue on in the spring after her career best effort last Saturday.

A decision will no doubt be made after she contests the Group 1 Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm next fortnight

Peter Moody's day to remember kicked off in the Queensland Derby when Brambles once again made all for his third straight victory.

The Savabeel gelding also posted a new peak figure of 112, a pound higher than what he ran to when dominating in the Group 3 Grand Prix (2200m) at Doomben on May 26.

Brambles winning effort also rated on par with the events previous five year winning average.

The Queensland Derby-winner is beginning to show plenty of promise as a tough staying type with his overall class to now come under the microscope during the spring.

Moody following the Derby win suggested Brambles needs to lift if he is to be a genuine spring contender and the history of the Queensland Derby suggests this is correct.

Not many Queensland Derby runners have gone on to taste further Group 1 success following the 2400m event with just two going on with the job in the past decade.

Those runners were Shocking [2009] and Sirmione [2007] who ran second and third in their respective renewals of the Queensland Derby.

2009 Queensland Derby runner up Shocking went on to win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington during the spring while Sirmione claimed the Mackinnon Stakes – Australian Cup double during the 2007/08 season.

Ice Chariot was the last winner of a Queensland Derby to claim another career stakes win.

After winning the 2006 renewal, the gelding struggled through the Melbourne spring before taking out Eagle Farm's Group 3 Tattersall's Cup and Queen's Cup more than 12 months after his Derby success.

The next example of a Queensland Derby winner to claim a stakes race the following season was 1998 winner and subsequent Epsom Handicap victor Dodge.

Lights Of Heaven rounded out a special day for the Moody stable when she proved too good in the Group 2 Timeform Brisbane Cup (2400m).

Her winning performance is examined more closely in this article.

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/timeform/rsnewsart.asp?NID=252434&story=Lights_Of_Heaven_Enhances_Cups_Claims

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/timeform/rsnewsart.asp?NID=252434&story=Lights_Of_Heaven_Enhances_Cups_Claims