Godolphin trained stablemates Moher and Federal are set to face off when they take their place in the field for the Group 3 $150,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Federal, above, will line up against his stablemate Moher in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Josh Parr takes the mount on Moher who has drawn barrier nine in the ten horse Festival Stakes field while Federal will jump from gate three with Tye Angland in the saddle.
Moher was back in the winner’s stall last start with a narrow victory in the $120,000 Sensis Digital Trophy (1400m) at Flemington on the last start of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Moher was scheduled to run in the Listed $130,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m) at Kilmore last Sunday but after the meeting was abandoned after the first race because of the weather and the state of the track, trainer James Cummings elected to head back to Sydney with the Lonhro gelding.
“He was due to run at Kilmore last Sunday but we had to turn around and bring him home, but this race is a good alternative,” Cummings said.
“He returns to Sydney after winning at Flemington during Cup week and he’s trained on strongly.”
Federal has had the benefit of two runs from a spell and is ready to produce his best following a last start third behind Festival Stakes favourite Cabeza de Vaca in the $100,000 November Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on November 18.
“He’s building up nicely and at his two runs this time in he’s been trying hard,” Cummings said.
“He’s also crept up in the ratings, but I still think he’s got a good chance.
“He’s trained nicely and is going to find the 1500m suitable.”
Federal is the better fancied of the two Godolphin runners at Ladbrokes.com.au and shares the second line of the betting at $5 with the well supported Chris Waller import Mister Sea Wolf behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Cabeza de Vaca who sits at the top of the market order at $2.70 while Moher is marked as a $10 chance..
Cabeza de Vaca has drawn barrier seven with apprentice Rachel King taking the ride again after steering the six year old to victory at his last two starts in the $100,000 Filante Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on October 28 and in the November Handicap.
