Stradbroke Handicap winner Trekking has firmed in the betting for tonight’s Group 1 $1m Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley following a winning gallop at Moonee Valley earlier in the week.
Trekking, above, is resuming in the 2019 Moir Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer James Cummings said that Trekking really impressed track watchers with his Monday morning hit out in preparation for his first run back since winning the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
“He’s going beautifully and flew in a gallop at Moonee Valley on Monday, I only hope he didn’t work too well,” Cummings said.
“But he’s pulled up well and we’re really looking forward to it.”
“The Moir is shaping as a genuine, high-pressure race. It looks like being a race where only the toughest of sprinters will prevail.
“But Trekking is a G1 winner at his last start, he’s the winner of eight races and he’s trialled very nicely ahead of this.”
Betting for the Moir Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has seen Trekking firm in from $8 to be the equal second pick at $6 alongside Sunlight while the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip is the easing $3.10 favourite.
Trekking has drawn an awkward barrier at eleven in the fifteen horse Moir Stakes field and will be ridden again by Stradbroke Handicap winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Cummings will also saddle up $16 chance Virdine who has drawn nicely at gate five with Ben Melham in the saddle.
Virdine is also resuming following a spell after finishng sixth behind Trekking in the Stradbroke handicap.
“He went very sweetly at the Valley on Monday, he’s strong and he looks fantastic,” Cummings said.
Nature Strip has drawn the rails and James McDonald is likely to let the speedster settle in the leading division following his first up fourth behind Redzel in the Group 3 $160,000 Forum Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 7.
Nature Strip proved his class with a win in the Group 1 $700,000 OOH!Media Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival and the five year old is a two times winner over the same course and distance as the Moir Stakes.
Betting for the Moir Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.10 Nature Strip, $6 Trekking, Sunlight, $13 Ball Of Muscle, The Bostonian, $16 Viridine, $18 Eduardo, $19 Booker, $20 Assertive Approach, $21 Bons Away, $26 Faatinah, Tactical Advantage, $41 Winter Bride, Miss Leonidas, $81 Meryl.
