Angelic Light will return to racing in the Group One Moir Stakes with trainer Robbie Griffiths believing changes to the race suit the mare.
Griffiths decided not to rush Angelic Light into a defence of Saturday’s McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley won in scintillating fashion by Chautauqua.
The Moir at Moonee Valley on October 2 has been reduced from 1200 metres to 1000.
Angelic Light won the 2014 McEwen Stakes second-up in a preparation which included a fourth in the Moir Stakes and close second in the Manikato Stakes at the same track.
She hasn’t raced since her only autumn start when she finished midfield in the William Reid Stakes and Griffiths later aborted a planned trip to Adelaide.
“She had a bit of tendon activity at the end of April, leading into May and we elected to bypass the Adelaide carnival and concentrate on the spring but the McEwen came up a bit soon,” Griffiths said.
“So having that extra four weeks to just not push her through so quickly gives us a chance to have her right for the Moir.
“That’s the plan, to go first-up into the Moir.”
Griffiths said because of the reduction in distance, the stable had the luxury of waiting for that race whereas the mare would have needed a start beforehand if it was still 1200m.
“She’s working fine and all going well she’ll be on track for the Moir first-up,” Griffiths said.
The Group One Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley is three weeks later and is scheduled as the mare’s second spring start.
