Missy Longstocking will back up in next week’s BRC Sires Produce Stakes after her hard fought win in the Lancaster Stakes at Doomben.
Jockey Damian Browne felt Missy Longstocking ($1.65 fav) was going to win comfortably and was surprised by the fight shown by runner-up Hallside Rose ($41) with only a short head separating the pair at the post.
“Half way up the straight I thought she’d win by two or three lengths but to the credit of the second filly she had to work hard for the win,” Browne said.
“There’s still room for improvement and she can only win.”
Missy Longstocking ($1.65 fav) was forced to race three wide for most of the race but Browne said she was always travelling comfortably.
“I was happy to be three-deep as long as she had cover and was relaxed and that’s how it panned out,” he said.
Browne admits he harbours some doubts about whether Missy Longstocking will handle the step up from 1200 to the 1400 metres of the Sires.
“We’ll only find out by having a go at it but I would probably want to have a fairly cosy run and not be doing too much work,” he said.
Although Sir Moments ran 1.1 seconds slower than Missy Longstocking when he won Saturday’s Dalrello Stakes, trainer Steve O’Dea is confident he is up to Group One company.
Having his first start in blinkers, Sir Moments ($2.40 fav) edged past El Toranado ($21) to win the Dalrello by three-quarters of a length with Chosen Idol ($3.30) a half length away third.
O’Dea believes Sir Moments will continue to improve as he steps up in distance and believes the Group One JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 is within his scope.
“I’ll run him in a fortnight in the Phoenix Stakes at Eagle Farm then back him up a week later in the JJ Atkins,” he said.
“He’s still got a lot to learn as you saw today when he got to the front he pricked his ears but he’s heading in the right direction.”
