Form expert Deane Lester has Petits Filous on top of his 2015 Moir Stakes tips and he believes that the talented filly is a genuine star in the making.
Petits Filous is currently a clear favourite in 2015 Moir Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Petits Filous made her racing debut with a dominant six lengths win in the Telstra Phonewords Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on July 15 and she went on to stamp herself as arguably the best three-year-old filly in the country with impressive victories in the United Refrigeration Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 1, the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15 and the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 12.
Lester admits that Petits Filous faces the toughest test of her racing career to date in the 2015 Moir Stakes, but he is confident that the Street Boss filly can record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.
“She is outstanding Petits Filous,” Lester told RSN.
“She runs time, she has got better with every start and she has scooted around the Valley on a couple of occasions.
“I just think that the way the race sets up she is going to be outside the lead and in the first three and she is well set up to become a Group 1 winner.
“She is a total star.”
Flamberge is currently available at 2015 Moir Stakes odds of $12, but Lester believes that the consistent sprinter may be the major danger to Petits Filous in the Group 1 event.
The Exceed And Excel gelding recorded his maiden win at Group 1 level when he took out The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 16 and he returned to racing with a second place finish behind Chautauqua in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m), which Lester believes is good enough form to give the Moir Stakes a genuine shake.
“He is going to need a good ride, but I think he can blend into the race and he has good fitness.
“In the past 12 months he has proven really solid at this level and he is very strong at the end of 1000 metres and comfortable at the Valley.
Fontiton is currently on the second line of Moir Stakes betting markets at $4.80, but there are a number of question marks over the promising filly that has not been seen at the races since she was beaten as favourite in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
Lester believes that Fontiton will be outpaced in the early stages of the Moir Stakes and he is unsure whether she will be able to return to racing with a win.
“She is an interesting runner,” Lester said.
“She had a long time off and she had surgery after the Blue Diamond, but she has had a couple of good gallops and some trials to get her ready for this race.
“It is a bit of an awkward draw and I am not sure if she has the speed to go with Petits Filous or Ball Of Muscle.
“It will be really interesting to see how he comes back.”
Petits Filous is currently available at 2015 Moir Stakes odds of $2.20 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Fontiton ($4.80), Buffering ($7.50), Ball Of Muscle ($8), Angelic Light ($11) and Flamberge ($12).
