3 minute read
A look at the minor action at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Moody team continue good work
Forbidden City has followed up a recent midweek city victory with success in the Sweeney Estate Agents Altona Handicap (1500m).
The victory may prove a pipe-opener to a significant rise in grade in coming months with 'black type' beckoning for the daughter of I Am Invincible.
Luke Nolen gave the $3 equal favourite a perfect ride in recording a 1-¾ length win over Ballynora.
"We'll take her home and see how she does," Moody's assistant-trainer Katherine Coleman said.
"She's had a couple of runs in now, so we'll probably send her down to the beach for a few days, bring her back and then assess where we go from there.
"It's good to get a nice win for some nice clients, Trelawney Stud and Brent and Cherry Taylor, and I was lucky enough to head over to their farm recently in New Zealand.
"It makes it all the more special having that relationship there."
Holiday wait over
Trainer Jerome Hunter holds a good opinion of Rich Fortune, so-much-so he held off going on holidays until after the filly had contested the Sweeney Estate Agents Footscray Handicap (1000m).
Matthew Cartwright had to weave his way through the field aboard Rich Fortune in recording a slender victory over Fission.
"I'm actually going away on holidays tomorrow and I didn't want to run her while away," Hunter said.
"I knew she was above average.
"I did the right thing only giving her the one start last preparation as she was too immature and this preparation, I have been taking her to the races as the lead pony for my other runners just to get her mind right.
"Today she was falling asleep in the stalls, so I'm really rapt to get the win."
Cold costs Payne a win
A heavy cold has cost Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne riding another city winner that she also trains.
Rambler Rebel appreciated the rise in trip to 1600m in leading throughout to claim the Sweeney Estate Agents Sunshine Handicap.
Payne had booked herself for the ride when acceptances were taken on Wednesday but having not fully recovered from a cold she decided to step down, providing Ethan Brown with a double for the day having scored earlier on Right You Are.
"It was an absolutely beautiful ride by Ethan. He did exactly what I asked him," Payne said.
"He's a difficult horse. I say a little prayer when I go out to ride him on the track.
"It's a shame I couldn't ride him. I've had a cold all week and had to get off him, but I was happy to get Ethan who is a beautiful rider, and I was absolutely rapt to have him on and get the job done."
Doubles up for Maher and Eustace
Right You Are and Wahine Toa have overcome leg injuries to provide Ciaron Maher and David Eustace a Christmas Eve double.
Success in the Sweeney Estate Agents North Altona Handicap (2040m) by Right You Are was followed up by Wahine Toa in the Sweeney Real Estate Agents Williamstown Handicap (2500m).
Right You Are spent more than a year out of racing recovering from suspensory ailment while a tendon strain kept Wahine Toa out of racing for 18 months.
Lucy Yeomans, assistant trainer for Maher and Eustace, said Wahine Toa had always shown staying promise and was ideally placed by Saturday's 2500m journey.
She said Wahine Toa would keep improving with Saturday's race being just the six-year-old's 15th start.
"There's some nice staying races here at The Valley that seem to suit her," Yeomans said.
"She had a tendon, not a bad one, and it has taken a lot of managing.
"She showed us a bit early on before losing her way, but she's been a slow maturing mare. You look at her and she's not fully furnished yet."
Quote of the day
"You wouldn't mind buying him by the kilo, there's plenty of him. He's like a three-year-old already and there's a bit of improvement to come, both physically and mentally too". Jockey Damien Oliver after guiding Amur to a debut win in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap.
