The 2017 Moir Stakes Form Guide is essential reading for punters and racing fans ahead of Friday night’s Group 1 feature race at The Valley.
Russian Revolution is set to jump favourite in Friday night’s Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo: Steve Hart
Some of the country’s best sprinters will step out in the capacity Moir Stakes field and we have analysed every horse in detail, in order to help you find the winner.
Russian Revolution is set to start race favourite in the Moir Stakes, but he will need to produce another big performance to overcome the likes of She Will Reign, Sheidel and Malaguerra.
Terravista
Multiple Group 1 winner Terravista is capable of beating any horse on his day, flies fresh and should find a good position behind the pace from barrier 7. Breaking through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) in 2014, the Captain Rio gelding continued to impress through several strong and consistent preparations, without being able to completely live up to his potential. Rated an outsider in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) first-up this year, Terravista mustered a big turn of foot in the final strides of the race to post his second Group 1 triumph, but failed to fire in two subsequent autumn starts. In-form hoop Corey Brown will take the ride in the Moir Stakes.
Malaguerra
Malaguerra is another proven first-up performer and is potentially over the Moir Stakes odds at his current quote. Winner of the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) during the 2016 Winter Carnival when under the care of Lee & Anthony Freedman, the Magnus gelding resumed in spring for second behind Star Turn in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m), before flying home to beat Spieth in the Darley Classic. Resuming this year for a smart win over Black Heart Bart and a talented field in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m), Malaguerra was also unable to produce much throughout his subsequent campaign. Barrier 16 is something of a concern and there is a query over the distance of the Moir Stakes potentially being short of his best. With regular hoop Ben Melham in the saddle, he is worth consideration for an each-way bet.
Voodoo Lad
Consistent sprinter Voodoo Lad has also drawn awkwardly into the Moir Stakes field, but he has produced two smart performances this time and is not without a chance of winning his first Group 1 crown in the featured sprint. Resuming this year for second in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), the I Am Invincible gelding placed fifth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), but failed to fire in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) and was returned to the paddock. A classy winner of the Group 3 The Heath (1100m) first-up on September 2nd, Voodoo Lad did not have conditions to suit in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) last time out, but still managed to finish a credible fourth. A fast early pace in this race will see Voodoo Lad storming home late.
Rock Magic
Perth raider Rock Magic has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his recent racing preparations and is worth consideration as an each-way prospect in the Moir Stakes. Ending a smart 2016 campaign third in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), the Redoute’s Choice gelding was sent to the east coast in spring and ran a credible fourth in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley first-up, but failed to handle the heavy going in the TJ Smith Stakes. Rock Magic won both the Group 3 Roma Cup (1200m) and Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) upon returning to the west and is drawn to get a nice run behind the pace from barrier 8.
Russian Revolution
Outstanding sprinter Russian Revolution has returned to racing in strong form this time and is the horse to beat in the 2017 Moir Stakes field. The Snitzel entire posted his first Group 1 win off the back of a tough performance in The Galaxy (1100m) first-up in autumn, before finishing sixth in the TJ Smith Stakes and fourth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m). Having resumed this time for an easy win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 9th, Russian Revolution will be partnered by leading jockey Hugh Bowman in the Moir Stakes and should prove extremely difficult to beat.
Derryn
Derryn found career-best form through the autumn and winter carnivals this year and there is nothing to say that he won’t go on with the job in the Moir Stakes. The son of Hinchinbrook finished close in his first two starts in February, before returning to winning form in the Listed Darby Munro (1200m) on March 18th. Finishing mid-pack in the TJ Smith Stakes, Derryn returned to winning form with arguably a career-best performance in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m), before a smart campaign through the major sprint races of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, highlighted by a close third in the Doomben 10,000. In-form hoop Mark Zahra will take the ride in the Moir Stakes and Derryn can run a big race form barrier 3.
Jungle Edge
Jungle Edge is another horse that found career-best form in autumn and winter, but he requires a rain-soaked track and he is subsequently yet to go close this season. Trainer Mick Bell took advantage of the Dubawi gelding’s rich vein of form and saddle the horse to wins in both the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m), as well as placings in The Galaxy, All Aged Stakes and Group 1 Darley Kingsford-Smith (1300m) most notably. Failing to beat a runner home in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) first-up this time, Jungle Edge was last seen finishing sixth in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) and will need to improve tenfold, if he is to go close in the Moir Stakes.
Faatinah
Faatinah is capable of a big performance on his day and is arguably at his best first-up. The Nicconi gelding was sent off a $41 shot in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) first-up this year, but produced a typically smart turn of foot to finish second behind Sheidel. Failing to handle the heavy going in his next two starts in Sydney, Faatinah ran a credible fourth in the Group 3 DC McKay Stakes (1100m) in Adelaide, but had clearly had enough by the time he finished fifteenth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m). In-form hoop Regan Bayliss will take the ride from the rails draw.
Sheidel
Group 1 winner Sheidel is drawn ideally, has the notable advantage of Joao Moreira in the saddle and can go extremely close to winning the Moir Stakes on Friday night. The Holy Roman Emperor mare flew home to win the Oakleigh Plate first-up in autumn, before working home well to finish fourth in the Newmarket Handicap. He form quickly tailed off through two subsequent starts, but she resumed this time for fourth in The Heath and should take plenty of natural improvement into this race.
Viddora
South Australian Viddora has not been seen at the races since May, but she posted several outstanding results throughout her last racing preparation and is another mare worth consideration at each-way odds. Posting a career total of six wins and as many minors through twenty starts to date, the I Am Invincible mare resumed in April for a close second in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m), before delivering a smart field a comfortable defeat in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) on April 22nd. Lining up alongside some of the country’s best fillies and mares in a twenty-horse Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) field on May 6th, Viddora mustered a big turn of foot to finish second behind Secret Agenda.
Heatherly
Talented mare Heatherly relishes racing at The Valley and she is over the Moir Stakes odds at her current $12 odds. Second behind Extreme Choice in the Moir Stakes last year, Heatherly resumed this time for a close second in the Listed Carlyon Stakes, before again finishing second in the McEwen Stakes last time out. The Lonhro mare will have to show some early speed so as to not get lost from barrier 13, but her class and experience suggests that she’ll be right in the finish of the Moir Stakes, particularly third-up.
Sweet Sherry
Sweet Sherry is another horse that has not been seen at the races since the Adelaide Autumn Carnival, but she has reportedly enjoyed her time away from racing and is capable of a strong run under the right conditions. Resuming in autumn for fourth in the Listed Incongnitus Stakes (1100m) on March 11th, the Bel Esprit mare ran mid-pack in the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) on Day 1 of The Championships, but flew home to win the Group 2 Euclase (1200m) at Morphettville on May 6th. Having ended her campaign mid-pack in The Goodwood, Sweet Sherry is drawn to find a good position in transit from barrier 5 and will be ridden by Luke Currie.
She Will Reign
The final horse confirmed as a starter in the Moir Stakes field, She Will Reign has been a revelation since making her debut in December last year, but this is her first task amongst open company and there is subsequently something of a question mark over how she will perform. A dominant winner of her first two starts before being put away for the Golden Slipper, the Manhattan Rain filly resumed this year for a smart win in the Group 2 Sliver Slipper (1100m), but failed to make up the ground on Frolic in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) and suffered her first defeat. Mustering a big turn of foot in the final straight at Rosehill in the Golden Slipper, She Will Reign delivered the best horses of her age-group a near-three length defeat. She has trialled well in the lead-up to the Moir Stakes and will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy at 50kgs.
Hellbent
First emergency Hellbent is a horse that has appeared to be capable of winning a Group 1 race throughout his entire racing career and he is a live chance in the Moir Stakes once more, should he gain a start. The I Am Invincible entire went extremely close when second in the William Reid Stakes in autumn and he is sure to have taken plenty of improvement from his first-up run for sixth in the McEwen Stakes.
Supido
Supido has found winning form at black type level this time in and is unlucky not to have gained automatic entry into the Moir Stakes. Winner of the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) first-up the Sebring entire was last seen finishing fifth in the McEwen Stakes.
Super Cash
Super Cash is a proven first-up performer and is not without a chance of winning the Moir Stakes at generous odds, should she gain a start. The daughter of Written Tycoon beat the likes of I Am A Star and Chautauqua in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) first-up in autumn, but failed to produce much through two subsequent starts. She is drawn ideally in barrier 2 and will be ridden by Katelyn Mallyon.
Ability
Ability has found career-best form in 2017 and is a genuine chance of winning the Moir Stakes, should he somehow gain a berth. The Reward For Effort gelding won two Victorian minor sprints with complete ease upon resuming in June, before taking out both the Listed All Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) and the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) most recently.
