Premier trainer Peter Moody is reviewing plans to send former Queenslander Rothera back home after his form reversal to win the Group Three Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
“I had him booked on a truck back to Queensland on Monday but I may speak to the owner and reconsider that now,” Moody said.
Formerly trained by Ben Currie, Rothera joined his new stable in September but performed ingloriously in three starts before jockey Luke Nolen convinced Moody to try him over more ground on Saturday.
“I didn’t think the horse was doing enough but it was the best he’s presented today and he got the job done,” Moody said.
“Both Luke and the owner wanted to get him out to this trip (1800m) and I think it is his first win on anything better than slow or heavy ground.
“He had to improve and out to this trip we might have opened a few more doors.”
Rothera worked hard three deep down the hill but travelled well rounding the home turn.
Under Nolen’s urgings he reached the lead at the 300 metres and had the race won with 100 metres to go, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths from Folding Gear and Ulundi.
Rothera has won 12 of his 32 starts and had shown ability in Queensland at his only two starts over 1800 metres, with a second in the 2010 Easter Cup at Eagle Farm and fourth in the Gold Coast’s Group Two 2010 Hollindale Stakes.
AAP TURF
