A history of barrier problems has resulted in Mirage making just one racetrack appearance in the past two years.
A re-training program has Peter Moody hopeful the gelding can maintain an unbeaten record when he lines up in the Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday.
After winning his first three starts for Moody, including the Listed Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February 2013, Mirage found his way to John Size in Hong Kong.
He won a race at Sha Tin in March last year, but Mirage proved a handful and returned to Melbourne after just one run and Moody sent the gelding to Julien Welsh at Pakenham for re-training.
“I was concerned he was going to hurt someone, or himself, so we sent him to Julien,” Moody said.
“When he was right he sent him back to us.”
The education process Welsh put Mirage through appears to have worked with the gelding showing no signs of bad manners in a jump-out at Caulfield.
Moody said was happy with Mirage’s fitness levels leading up to his return run.
“He’s done enough work. It’s just whether he’s good enough,” Moody said.
Punters think so as Mirage is the $4.80 second favourite for the Hareeba Stakes behind last start Oakleigh Plate runner-up Under The Louvre at $3.60.
Moody has Wish Come True and Vatuvei in the feature race, the Mornington Cup (2400m), and said both had trained on well after finishing second and fifth respectively behind Index Linked in the Yarra Valley Cup on March 15.
Besides the Mornington runners, the Moody stable will be represented by Spectacular Vision in the WA Oaks at Ascot in Perth, Sino Eagle and Clover Lane at Morphettville in Adelaide, Sweet And Speedy in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill along with runners at Newcastle and Werribee.
“Fingers crossed we can get a winner somewhere,” Moody said.
