Trainer Michael Moroney believes that the 2014 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville this Saturday is the right race for front-running filly Octavia.
Octavia will be chasing her second win at Group level in the 2014 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Octavia returned to the races with a disappointing fifth place finish in the Health Science Consultants Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on March 29 and was forced to do pretty of work early and finished eighth behind Pago Rock in the Noel Rundle Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on April 19.
Moroney told Racing Ahead this morning that he was satisfied with the second-up run of Octavia and is hoping that she can produce an improved performance when she steps back-up to Group 3 level in the Proud Miss Stakes this weekend.
“I thought that her last run was more like here,” Moroney said.
“I was really disappointed with her first run at Moonee Valley, but Moonee Valley can do that.
“Her run was a long way better at Caulfield; she got badly taken on and had to do a lot of work.
“The horse that took her on dropped out and ran last and she was still right in it till the last bit.
“She comes back to mares class and it does appear the right sort of race for her.”
The 2014 Proud Miss Stakes has drawn a strong field of fillies and mares and Octavia will need to perform at her very best to record her first win at Group level since she took out the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at the start of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
Peter Moody has elected to send consistent mare Kneeling to Adelaide for the for the first time since she finished second behind Golden Penny in the Listed Penny Edition Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in August last year and the Encosta De Lago mare will have the opportunity to score her second straight black type win after taking out the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) at Warrnambool last weekend.
Just Discreet finished second behind Assertive Eagle in the 2013 edition of the Proud Miss Stakes and trainer Phillip Stokes is hoping that she can go one better this year, while Classy Chloe and You Can Dance will also be backing-up from last year’s race.
Moroney has a strong hand at Morphettville on Saturday; with imported stayer Court Pastoral set to contest the Listed Centaurea Stakes (2006m) and Rhythm To Spare the Listed R.A. Lee Stakes (1600m).
