Leading trainer Peter Moody is eyeing Group One feature sprints over Melbourne’s Festival of Racing for smart mare Kulgrinda who resumes in Saturday’s United Arab Emirates Stakes at Caulfield.
The daughter of 2004 Newmarket Handicap winner Exceed And Excel will be aimed at either the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18 or the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield a week later.
Moody said her performance in Saturday’s 1000m Listed event could determine which one she contests.
Both look tough options as star colt Sepoy is scheduled to resume in the Oakleigh Plate while Hay List will make his comeback in the Lightning.
Raced by David and Jenny Moodie who bred the four-year-old, Kulgrinda is from the same family as 2003 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove.
“She’s very good fresh. She’s a very good mare, already a multiple stakes winner, so it’s a nice race for her,” Moody said.
“She’s drawn a bit sticky (10 of 10) so Luke (Nolen) is going to have to do a bit of homework, but I’m very pleased with her and she’s ready to run super first up.”
A winner at four of her nine starts, Kulgrinda is unbeaten first and second up in two racing preparations.
Last time in she won the Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville and the Printhouse Graphics Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley, both at Listed level.
“I’d like to be having a crack at a race like the Oakleigh Plate on the limit weight or the Lightning depending on what lines up in the race,” Moody said.
Fellow trainer Jason Warren said he would talk to the owners after Saturday regarding which way to go with Bel Sprinter who could run in the the Lightning or Oakleigh Plate on his way to the $1 million Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 10.
“This horse is best with three weeks between runs,” said Warren referring to the timing of the Lightning suiting Bel Sprinter better as a lead up to the Newmarket.
A winner of four of his five starts including the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last August, Bel Sprinter hasn’t raced since being collared late by Lone Rock in the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 3.
“He’s 35kg heavier and he’s all muscle so he’s in terrific order,” Warren said.
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