Leading trainer Peter Moody is expecting an improved effort from My Quest For Peace in the 2013 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Peter Moody has changed the training regime of My Quest For Peace ahead of the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
My Quest For Peace started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and finished at the tail of the field but was only six lengths behind Atlantic Jewel.
The first-up effort was fair for a stayer working towards bigger races during the spring but Moody told Racing Ahead that he was disappointed with the performance, although he is confident that he will see an improved effort out of the son of Galileo this weekend.
“I was just disappointed for what I have seen at home,” Moody said on RSN.
“After having a good chat with the team at home we just decided to change his training regime and back his training off a bit to mix it up.
“I am very happy with him, he is a high quality galloper and it is the first time that I have had him past seven furlongs so we are still short of his best trip but I think that we will see an improved effort from him.”
Stablemate Manighar, who has won at Group 1 level on three occasions, has also been included in the Underwood Stakes field but My Quest For Peace will still be ridden by leading stable jockey Luke Nolen, with Manighar to be partnered by Daniel Stackhouse.
Moody was adamant that this does not mean he rates My Quest For Peace a better winning chance and said that Nolen is helping him work out how to best handle the five-year-old.
“I know where Manighar is at but I am still working the other horse out and Luke is working with me on that matter,” the premiership winning trainer said.
“No rider gets a choice in my camp, I put them where I need them for what I need going forward.
“Daniel has been a hard toiler for the camp and knows what needs to be done while Luke is helping me still access the other horse.”
Moody is chasing his first Underwood Stakes victory after Italian import Voila Ici finished second in the race last year.
