The Group 1 WFA $400,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30 could be the alternative Spring Carnival starting point for Dissident if the wet weather continues in Sydney.
Dissident, white and blue, holds off El Roca, brown and gold, to win the Royal Randwick Guineas. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Peter Moody trained Dissident was due to kick off his Spring campaign in the Group 2 WFA $175,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday but the continuing wet weather could force a change of plans for the Sebring stallion.
“I’m mindful if the track is too wet I can always pull him out and take him down to Melbourne in a week for the Memsie,” Moody told TVN.
The Sydney region has been hit with torrential rain since the weekend and with more rain forecast for the rest of the week the prospect of a good racing surface is diminishing.
The Goulburn meeting set down for Monday and Newcastle’s Tuesday meeting were both abandoned due to the state of the track because of the rain and the track at Canterbury on Wednesday is already rated a heavy 9.
Dissident was spelled in Queensland after a gruelling Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign that saw him collect a deserved Group 1 victory in the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 15 as well as a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on March 1.
But Dissident failed to handle the heavy track when twelfth to Sacred Falls in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 12 and was subsequently sent to Queensland for a winter break.
Moody gave the four year old one trial at Doomben before transferring him to his Sydney stables at Randwick where he trialled again over 1050m on August 11.
“He has spelled and prepped-up really well in Queensland and he’s ready to go and if we don’t get too much more rain the track may dry out a bit,” Moody said.
“We’ll just have to wait and see, but he doesn’t have to run here (Sydney) on Saturday.”
Moody has already tested Dissident at weight for age during his three year old season and he performed creditably to be beaten only two and a half lengths when sixth to Streama in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the 2013 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Dissident’s main Spring Carnival goal is the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
“His ultimate goal will be the Cox Plate in October,” Moody said
“We thought it’s a good time to give him his chance at a race like the Cox Plate, but only time will tell if it’s the right call.”
“The one thing with him is that he’s improved every preparation and if that trend continues he could prove up to the top level.”
Dissident is at long odds of $41 in the early Cox Plate market order with Ladbrokes.com.au who have multiple Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Silent Achiever as the $11 favourite just in front of Irish galloper Adelaide at $13 and Hong Kong Group1 winner Dan Excel, English galloper Mukhadram and dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls all at $15.
