Confirming the in-form four-year-old for the feature race at Caulfield on Sunday, trainer Peter Moody is confident class will take Dissident a long way towards success in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), but revealed he is preparing the horse for major middle-distance targets in October.
Trainer Peter Moody is expecting class to count for a lot in Dissident Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes chances. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
A notable performer over five black type starts in the 2014 Autumn Carnival, Dissident has returned to racing in career-best form this time in; winning both the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) in impressive fashion.
Understandably wrapped with the way the Sebring entire has taken to the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, Moody said he is expecting the four-year-old to be stacked with weights for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, but is confident his class will count for a lot on Sunday.
“I think punters have probably got to be aware that he’s being trained for the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) and the Cox Plate,” Moody told Racing Victoria.
“He’s not being trained for the Rupert Clarke; it’s the race on the way through.
“Ability will take him a long way in that race but I’m training him for 10 furlongs (2000m) now not seven furlongs (1400m) so I think everyone’s got to be quite mindful of that.
“I suppose he’s going to be giving a fair bit of weight to most of the field but he was very dominant there (Caulfield) in the Memsie a couple of weeks ago and I suppose it comes down to the question of how many of these horses would have won the Memsie?
“I think it will take a Herculean task for him to win but I think he’s an extremely good colt at the same time.”
Claiming five wins and as many minor places from just 15 competitive appearances on course so far, Dissident finished second in the Listed Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) upon returning to racing this year; charging home to win the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) on March 1st before breaking through for a maiden victory at the highest level of Australian racing in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) most notably on March 15th.
Yet to appear in markets for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Dissident is currently available at odds of $11 for success in the 2014 Cox Plate, sharing the second line of betting with Sacred Falls at Ladbrokes Australia.
