Peter Moody is confident Australasian Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven is going to measure up to the top grade again this spring.
But which path she takes will be determined after her first two or three starts.
The first of those outings will be when she resumes in Saturday’s Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and the second will be the Group Two Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 3.
All going well it would then be on to the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 17.
“From the Lawrence and the Makybe, I would determine whether we look at a Cox Plate path if she appears to have the necessary attributes for that,” Moody told Radio Sport National.
“Or we could come back a cog and look at the Caulfield Cup and that’s as long as we believe she’ll get a mile and a half (2400m) because even though she’s a Zabeel she has quite a deal of brilliance and what distances that’s going to carry her over I’m not sure.
“Or whether we are just back in races like the Toorak and Epsom Handicaps.
“There are quite a lot of options and we’ll learn quite a deal in the next six weeks with her.
“I’d be very surprised if we had to come back to mares’ grade. At the least I think she’s going to be a nice handicapper.”
Ben Melham will fill in for the suspended Luke Nolen on Saturday and Moody is happy with the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups equal favourite who drew barrier one in the 12-horse field.
“She’s done particularly well. She hasn’t got any taller, she’s not an overly-tall mare but she’s certainly strengthened and matured mentally as well as physically,” Moody said.
“Her trial here a couple of weeks back at Caulfield was super. Luke (Nolen) was quite amazed at her turn of foot.”
Moody said Lights Of Heaven wasn’t at the same level as champion stablemate Black Caviar but he can see her reaching similar heights to Typhoon Tracy.
“She’s building that same sort of imposing record although she’s a different type of mare,” Moody said.
“This one has stretched out to a mile and a quarter (2000m) at her fourth start whereas Typhoon Tracy only had one run at the trip.
“But I think she’s got terrific upside and she’s very untapped. I don’t want to put the kiss of death on her and suggest she’s at either of their levels.
“But four from four and a Group One on her resume, it’s hard to suggest she’s not going to measure up to top grade.”
AAP TURF
