Dissident won a Group One during his three-year-old season and trainer Peter Moody took great delight as he watched the quality galloper return and dominate a classy field to claim another in the Memsie Stakes on Saturday.
Stepping out for his first start as a four-year-old after having his campaign diverted from Sydney last week, Dissident sprinted clear of a quality weight-for-age field to win by 2-1/4 lengths at Caulfield.
Dissident, Ben Melham
“He’s mixed it with the best of his age at three. Everyone has had a doubt on that but he’s taken on the good older weight-for-age horses today and he’s dead-set put them to the sword,” Moody said.
“He’s a top-quality colt and he deserves his place in any weight-for-age field in the country on the back of that performance.”
Last season’s Randwick Guineas winner, Dissident was sent out as the lesser fancied of the two Moody-trained runners. Track specialist Moment Of Change was second favourite at $5 while the resuming Dissident was at $12.
Jockey Ben Melham tracked the speed set by Sweet Idea and Moment Of Change before producing the son of Sebring in clear running from the top of the straight.
He quickly sprinted to the front and easily held Sweet Idea ($8) with a half-neck and Puissance De Lune ($8) at third.
Star New Zealand mare Silent Achiever closed nicely at fourth, while favourite Boban was trapped three wide before finishing fifth.
Moment Of Change weakened out and finished last.
The Group One Makybe Diva Stakes is next on the agenda for Dissident, but Moody hasn’t properly entertained a Cox Plate start .
“I have strong doubts on his 2000-metre ability, I really do,” Moody said.
“He is super at a mile, I reckon.”
Melham hopes he can retain the ride on Dissident, having partnered him to a Group One win at his first ride on the entire.
“He’s got improvement in him and he’s a really good galloper,” Melham said.
Brad Rawiller believes Puissance De Lune is on track for the Makybe Diva Stakes, while Roger James was delighted with the first-up run of Silent Achiever.
“I know it will improve her immensely,” James said.
Meanwhile, Damien Oliver will miss next week’s Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes as part of an eight-meeting suspension for causing interference on Commanding Jewel in the WW Cockram Stakes.
Glyn Schofield was also banned for eight meetings for his ride on Amicus, the Sydney filly who lost the first race on protest.
