Mr Moet scored an upset first-up win in the Group 1 Railway Stakes two years ago and connections are hoping that the talented gelding can repeat that feat in the 2014 edition of the race at Ascot on Saturday.
Mr Moet has the chance to record a second win in the Railway Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Mr Moet made his racing debut at Belmont Park in 2010, but he did not make his debut at Stakes level until he scored a narrow win over Chester Road and Rosie Rocket in the Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at the same venue in July of 2012.
Trainer Adam Durrant elected to set Mr Moet for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Mosayter gelding completed an outstanding training performance when he finished over the top of Luckygray to take out the $1 million event.
Mr Moet went on to finish second behind Luckygray in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) a fortnight later, win the Group 2 Cox Stakes (2011m) and finish second in the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m); with the impressive string of performances earning the seven-year-old an opportunity at the highest level of racing on the Eastern Seaboard of Australia.
The Lark Hill-based galloper made his Melbourne racing debut with a fast-finishing third behind All Too Hard in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and he was narrowly denied by Foreteller in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at the same venue before he failed to perform at his best when sixth in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Mr Moet was set for the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and started his campaign with promising efforts in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield and the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley before he finished sixth behind Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
After the Caulfield Cup Durrant opted to remove Mr Moet from Melbourne Cup calculations because he did not think the gelding was capable of winning the race and he was set for another tilt at the Perth Summer, but was unable to record a race win in the Railway Stakes, Kingston Town Classic or Cox Stakes.
A move to the Chris Waller stable for an autumn campaign fell through and Mr Moet was given a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock, but he put the writing on the wall for a return to racing with two solid performances in Lark Hill barrier trials on October 6 and November 3.
Mr Moet is currently available at 2014 Railway Stakes odds of $14, while The Cleaner ($4.60) remains favourite from Respondent ($6), Elite Belle ($8) and Balmont Girl ($10).
