One stable that is happy to see the Moir Stakes at Sandown is the Mark Walker yard who will be represented by Geegees Mistruth.
The Group 1 dash over 1000m is this year being run at Sandown as Moonee Valley undergoes a rebuild with a reconfiguration of the track.
This year’s contest has brought together a field of 13 and while it will still be a mad dash, the field will have the capabilities to spread across the width of the Sandown track.
Geegees Mistruth has not raced since winning the Group 1 Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville in April and enters Saturday’s contest off one jump-out, a victory at Caulfield Heath on August 19.
Walker’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson said the team had deliberately kept the mare on the fresh side but believes she has done the work to be competitive on Saturday.
“The plan was always to have the one jump-out, keep her fresh and then hopefully we can go to the Manikato (Stakes),” Gleeson said.
“We were rapt with her trial at Caulfield Heath a few weeks ago and she’s had a few gallops at home.
“I think she’s improved. In saying that she needs to with her rating being where it is now.
“She has to find a couple of lengths. I think she has and we’ve had her for a year now and have continued to learn about her, work with her quirks, and I think we’ve done that.
“The Sandown 1000 metres is going to suit her fresh. She’s that 1200 to 1400-metre type of horse, but she is electric first-up.
“If there is any horse suited in it at Sandown, it is certainly her and we’re glad it’s not at Moonee Valley.
“She’s not been there before, but she’s got a lovely big action on her, and she will eat up that ground up the rise.”
Having started her career in Tasmania with Stuart Gandy, Geegees Mistruth has just the one win for Walker but has a further four placings from her seven outings for the stable.
Gleeson said the team, especially track rider Laura Winks, had worked hard on getting Geegees Mistruth to relax.
“She’s a highly strung filly, but her track rider that has ridden her from day one when she came to us has done a lot of hard work with her,” Gleeson said.
“She’s got her to relax. She’s happy, she’s eating us out of house and home, and is nearly one of the quietest horses in our stable now.”
Blake Shinn, who partnered Geegees Mistruth in the jump-out at Caulfield Heath, has the ride on Saturday with the pair to jump from gate four.
