A trainer’s perfect plan and its similarly precise execution by the jockey turned around the form of talented filly Meliora at Caulfield on Saturday.
Trainer Peter Moody said he had come to a conclusion after Meliora was run down over 1200m at Caulfield two weeks ago that a step up to 1400m and some bold tactics were required.
Meliora winning the Angus Armanasco Stakes - Photo by Bruno Cannatelli
“In the 1200 here the other day they got to her and struggled to get past her and she held on well,” Moody said.
“I thought we’d have no trouble running a strong 1400 and if we made them chase us from a long way out she’d be even harder to run down.”
The other half of one of the most successful jockey-trainer partnerships in Australian racing did the rest.
Luke Nolen established an early five-length lead in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes, steadied in the middle stages and conserved enough for a decisive kick at the 250m to get Meliora ($7) home by 3-1/2 lengths.
The favourite Members Joy ($2.30) led the chasing pack and held on for second, a head in advance of Red Fez ($4.60).
Having attached some all-important black type to Meliora’s CV, Moody will look for some more in the Group Two Kewney Stakes at Flemington on March 9 with a view to a trip to Sydney where the Group One Coolmore Stakes would be on her program.
“It would be a decent step up to the Coolmore, and this might look like an average field that she’s beaten,” Moody said.
“But it’s a Group Two and she’s won it, that’s all you can do.”
