Peter Moody believes Lights Of Heaven is on track for another Group One victory after her hard-fought win in the Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Runner-up to Shez Sinsational in last year’s Hollindale (1800m), Lights Of Heaven ($2.80 fav) won this year’s renewal of the Group Two race by a long neck from Foreteller ($5) with Transporter ($15) a nose away third.
“That makes up for her head defeat in this race last year and it might be a good sign going forward to the Doomben Cup,” Moody said.
“She was second in that race as well last year so hopefully this is the turning point.”
Lights Of Heaven has lived in the shadow of her stablemate, the invincible Black Caviar, throughout her career but Moody clearly regards her as a high class mare in her own right.
“She’s been a tremendous mare for us winning a Group One race as a three-year-old and going on to win multiple times at Group Two and Group Three level,” he said.
“The good thing is we get to have a crack at putting another Group One on her CV in a couple of weeks time and the further she goes the better she’ll be.
“She was probably a bit dour today but she’s just looking for more ground and the step up to 2000 metres next time in the Doomben Cup and 2400 metres in the Brisbane Cup after that will be ideal for her.”
Moody said the winner of the 2011 Schweppes Oaks in Adelaide performed at her best during the autumn and winter months.
“For some reason she races best at this time of year,” he said.
“Although she ran third in last year’s Caulfield Cup, if you look at her form I think she’s raced ten times in the spring without winning.”
Liam Prior, racing manager for trainer Chris Waller, rated Foreteller unlucky to be beaten after racing three deep without cover.
“The wide draw made it difficult but it was a super run and he’s on track for two weeks time in the Doomben Cup,” Prior said.
Transporter gave bookmakers a huge sight when he hit the lead in the straight, impressing jockey Michael Cahill with his determination.
“He always does his best and I thought he was going to win for a few strides but they just got him in the final stages,” Cahill said.
Solzhenitsyn ($4.20) wasn’t able to accelerate when jockey Damian Browne wanted to improve his position from the 600 metres and finished seventh.
