Having had experience with the family of Grand Prix Stakes fancy Moon Sweeper, Matthew Dunn was a little wary when the horse arrived at his stable.
However, he has been pleasantly surprised by the three-year-old’s easy-going temperament, which is in stark contrast to that of his dam, five-time winner La Scopa.
“I trained his mother. She was difficult but really tough and he’s tough, only not difficult,” Dunn said.
By distance sire Puissance De Lune, Moon Sweeper has won two of his three starts, progressing from a Lismore maiden victory in October to claim a metropolitan success at Doomben last start.
On Saturday, he steps up to black-type level in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) where Dunn expects him to appreciate the extra 200m.
“He’s a horse that is going places, for sure. When they can take those leaps in their first few starts they’ve usually got a good future and I think he’s got that.
“He will love the trip and he’s done really well since his last run.”
Moon Sweeper got the job done on a heavy track last start but Dunn said the gelding wasn’t overly comfortable in the going and he was hoping the Eagle Farm surface, rated a soft 7 on Thursday, continued to dry out.
He said it was also a case of the firmer the better for filly Scripted, who will be bidding to stake her claims to a Magic Millions Guineas berth when she resumes in the Gold Edition Plate (1200m).
Given a let-up after making it two wins from as many starts at Doomben in October, Scripted was due to run in Brisbane last weekend but was scratched due to the wet track and Dunn felt the extra week would only work in her favour.
“She is above average and she proved that when she won her second start in Brisbane, everything went wrong and she still beat them convincingly,” Dunn said.
“I am hoping she can win and then go through to the Magic Millions three-year-old race.”
The Gold Edition Plate has a remarkable honour roll that includes Sizzling (2012), Winning Rupert (2016), Alligator Blood (2019) and Isotope (2020).
