As he awaits Black Caviar’s triumphant return to Sydney in two weeks, trainer Peter Moody is looking for a turnaround in the form of some of his more humble stable members at Rosehill on Saturday.
And there could hardly be appropriate horse to lead the stable’s fight back than Brilliant Bisc.
After a disappointing day at Rosehill last Saturday, Moody is hoping Brilliant Bisc can regain some standing in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and headline an improved showing for Melbourne’s leading stable in Sydney.
Brilliant Bisc announced herself as a Golden Slipper prospect in Sydney’s first two-year-old race of the season, the Gimcrack Stakes, in which she beat the subsequently well-performed Guelph.
After resuming with an encouraging third to Overreach in the Widden Stakes, Brilliant Bisc then disappointed on a heavy track at Rosehill last start behind Sweet Idea.
The filly needs to win on Saturday to be considered for a late nomination for the Slipper.
“Both of her runs this time in have been from bad barriers and last start she had no luck at all,” Moody said.
Brilliant Bisc is part of a strong Melbourne representation in the Magic Night with Bulbula from the David Hayes stable and Russell Cameron’s Sense of Hite also in the field.
Moody is also represented by Lampedusa in the Darby Munro Stakes, topweight Never Forget and last-start Warwick Farm winner Thy in the Epona Stakes, Golden Archer in the Galaxy and Voila Ici in the Ajax Stakes.
Of that group Moody is looking to Golden Archer as a “terrific outside chance” in the Group One Galaxy (1100m).
“This has been his target race all along and even though he finished well back at Warwick Farm the other day there were excuses,” he said.
“We rode him back from an outside barrier and it didn’t suit him at all.
“The barrier here is the key, and he’s drawn a good one.”
Moody said his top middle-distance runner Manighar who dropped out in last week’s Ranvet might miss the rest of the Sydney carnival and head straight to Brisbane where the Hollindale Cup at the Gold Coast would be his immediate aim.
