Before Peter Moody saddles up Lidari, and possibly first emergency Brambles, in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, the leading trainer will be out to add a Cup of another kind to his bulging trophy cabinet with promising stayer Kenjorwood lining up in the Moe Cup Thursday. Kenjorwood was an impressive winner last start and punters believe he’ll take the step up in both class and distance in his stride with the son of Snippetson the dominate $2.80 favourite. Moody’s other runner in the race Quick Snitzel has also met with good support in early markets, firming from $14.00 into $11.00. Hvasstan, from the local stables of Peter Gelagotis, will cap off a big week for the trainer who prepared Mourinho to victory in Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup. He is rated a $7.00 chance with the only other runner under double figures Extra Zero ($8.50) who will be out to register his first win in twenty-seven starts
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1. MOURINHO – SCRATCHED
2. COMMANDING TIME – (20) 57kgs
Sat on the speed and although no match late, chased impressive winner Kenjorwood gamely in an Open (1700m) at Caulfield before another tenacious on-pace effort was rewarded with a victory in the Benalla Cup (2046m) just over a week ago. Trainer Brian McCarthy has his 7yo in good form at the moment but he’ll find this very hard from the widest gate in a big field.
Odds: $8.50
3. KINCAPLE – D Lane (10) 57kgs
Returned to Victoria after spending the past three years in Perth where he raced with success, but the 9yo has struggled in three runs back from a spell for new trainer Mark Webb. He was beaten over thirteen lengths in the List Aus. Bloodstock (1700m) two starts back before making no impression from the tail of the field when last in the G3 Naturalism Stakes behind Gris Caro. Drop in class helps but not by enough to see him winning this.
Odds: $81.00
4. HVASSTAN – J Bowman (14) 56.5kgs
Finished alongside stable-mate and recent Cranbourne Cup winner Mourniho when sixth (1.4 lengths) to The Cleaner in the JRA Cup last start, his third from a spell. Has the services of the in-form Hugh Bowman to help him negotiate his awkward draw and interesting note that each of his four career wins, have come on tracks with some give in them. Stable would love to win their local cup and he rates a good chance of doing so on recent form.
Odds: $7.50
5. KENJORWOOD – R Bayliss (1) 56kgs
Rapidly improving gelding from the Moody Stable who made it three wins from five starts this campaign with an impressive all the way win in an Open Class handicap (1700m), defeating Commanding Time – who subsequently won the Benalla Cup, by four lengths. Goes up five kilos on that run but it was his first for seven weeks so expect him to be stronger again and he has drawn ideally it would appear in gate one.
Odds: $2.80
6. PRINCE OF PENZANCE – M Payne (7) 56kgs
Held his ground second up from a spell when seventh (5.4 lengths) to subsequent Group 1 place-getter Brambles in a Flemington Open class (1700m) event but expected to see more from his at his following start. He only battled in an Open Handicap (1700m) behind Kenjorwood when eighth (ten lengths). The step up in trip, where his recent record is solid and includes a close up fourth Mornington Cup, is a plus as will be the expected pace of the race. Could be a sharp improver.
Odds: $10.00
7. TRADE COMMISSIONER – J Winks (6) 56kgs
The Chris Waller runner was expected to show a lot more than his second to last placing behind Who Shot Thebarman in a Flemington Open (2000m) but bounced back with a much better effort three weeks late, when fifth (2.9 lengths) to Commanding Time in the Benalla Cup last start. Drew second to widest in the Benalla Cup and settled a long way back before running home strongly over the final furlong in a race where those close to the speed figured prominently in the placings. Good show here if he repeats last start’s effort.
Odds: $15.00
8. COUNT OF LIMONADE – (19) 55.5kgs
Mick Price took his former imported galloper to Adelaide for his second up run this prep where the 5yo stallion ran sixth (3.2 lengths) behind Quayside in the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m). Will be fitter again and drops in weight but takes on a much stronger field here, hasn’t raced for close to a month and jumps from a horrible draw.
Odds: $26.00
9. LORD DURANTE – C Symons (18) 55.5kgs
Stuck on gamely behind in-form Who Shot Thebarman two starts back when fifth (6 lengths) in a Flemington 2000m Open before securing a lovely run throughout and finishing close up seventh (1.5 lengths) to The Cleaner in the G3 JRA Cup (2040m). That’s a good form-line for this race however, he’d need it all to pan out perfectly for him to be winning a race such as this and it’s hard to see that happening from gate eighteen.
Odds: $21.00
10. EXTRA ZERO – M Walker (12) 54.5kgs
Surprised most with his first up effort, running third at 40/1 over the unsuitably short 1400m, when third to Late Charge in the Listed The Sofitel Stakes (1400m) and the 8yo has since backed that up with another good effort when third again to Kenjorwood. Chased hard last start and meets the winner 5kgs better here. It has been a long, long time since the son of Danzero won a race, 2012’s Albury Gold Cup, but on his two runs in this prep, can’t be left out of calculations.
Odds: $8.50
11. HARTANI – S King (17) 54.5kgs
Had his first run for eleven months and only second for two years when second to last (10.6 lengths) in a BM 90 (2000m) at Caulfield just over two weeks ago. Under 59.5kgs he took up a forward spot before continuing to concede ground in the run home and it’s hard to see him winning this off of that effort.
Odds: $61.00
12. KIM COMMAND – (15) 54kgs
Overcome trouble two runs back to win a BM 78 (2200m) at Geelong before getting every chance from an inside draw when second (1.5 lengths) to Longeron. Connections expected a bold showing last start, supporting the 5yo in betting from 20/1 into 12/1 however, the step up in class and awkward draw will prove a combination too strong for him to overcome.
Odds: $21.00
13. QUICK SNITZEL – L Nolen (11)
Winner of two of his first three runs this campaign saw him line up as the 15/4 favourite in the Bairnsdale Cup (1600m) last start. The lightly raced 5yo had his chance in the run before finishing fourth (1.3 lengths) to Vizhaka. Steps beyond 1800m for the first time in his career and the jump in distance, couple with the stronger field, would see others in front of him regarding selection.
Odds: $12.00
14. ROAD TRIPPIN’ – S Baster (13) 54kgs
Racing consistently this prep but is finding it hard to break through for a win. After running third in the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m) to Quayside, he tried to lead all the way in the Benalla Cup (2025m) last start before weakening over the final stages to run fourth (2.2 lengths) behind Commanding Time. Will find this now easier.
Odds: $12.00
15. SURPASS – J Noonan (3) 54kgs
Travelled to Sydney to take advantage of the wet tracks and made the trip profitable by winning a BM 85 (2000m) and finishing third (3.5 lengths) to World Wide, recent winner of the Port Macquarie Cup, over the same distance and class. Returned to Victorian, and a dry track, to run fourth in the Listed Harry White (2400m) behind It’s A Carousel. Going well enough to consider as a place chance but those chances improve considerably on wet ground.
Odds: $17.00
16. THUNDERBIRD ONE – A McCabe (2) 54kgs
Former NZ’er who, first up off a ten week break, drew wide in the Listed The Sofitel Stake (1400m) and his effort to finish tenth (5.1 lengths) to Late Charge, was a passable one. He then draw the inside gate in the Bairnsdale Cup (1600m), settled midfield on the fence and raced ungenerously before hanging badly on the turn. He finished second to last but wouldn’t be surprised to see an improved effort from the former NZ who has a G3 WFA placing to her name over this distance.
Odds: $21.00
17. PRETTY BLONDE – J Potter (8) 54kgs (1st EM)
Darwin Cup winner who just got way out of her ground at her first local run, finishing twelfth and over sixteen lengths behind Kenjorwood before an improved effort in last week’s Pinker Pinker Quality, where she finished eighth of nine but only 3.4 lengths behind No Excuses Bec and Quayside. Fitter again and her record at this distance range is strong.
Odds: $81.00
18. ROWLAND – (4) 54kgs (2nd EM)
The 9yo hasn’t made an impression from the tail of the field in either of his two most recent runs, finishing second to last (7.9 lengths) behind Wrotham Heights, and then last of twelve to Mourinho in Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup. Won’t worry too many here if he does get a start.
Odds: $67.00
19. RAPETTE – (16) 54kgs (3rd EM)
Will find this much harder than the BM 64 and BM 70 he has contested at Sale and Cranbourne recently, where he finished in both. Not here.
Odds: $81.00
20. ELECTRIC FUSION – (5) 54kgs (4th EM)
The 5yo mare was given a few starts to build her fitness after a seventh month break but last start, at her fourth run in and her first this campaign over a suitable distance, she finished a well beaten (14.0 lengths) behind Kenjorwood at Caulfield. Until she hits top form, would prefer to see her in something easier than this race.
Odds: $34.00
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RACE OVERVIEW
Kenjorwood will go to the front here from the inside draw but will be kept honest in the run. Young apprentice Regan Bayliss has ridden the gelding well in each of his five starts this campaign and Moody’s decision to stick with him here is a good vote of confidence. Looking for a few at value to couple with the favourite and Trade Commissioner ($15.00) fits the bill. Like the way he hit the line in the Benalla Cup last start and shouldn’t have to get as far back either from a better gate. Prince of Penzance, like many, just held his ground last start and is ready for the increased trip – where his records reads well. Hvasstan is going to well to leave but will need a bit of luck/good ride, to negotiate the wide draw.
- KENJORWOOD
- TRADE COMMISSIONER
- HVASSTAN
- PRINCE OF PENZANCE
