Peter Moody will chase a third win in the Queensland Derby when former Perth galloper Buthelezi lines up at Eagle Farm.
Buthelezi has been aimed specifically at the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman after the three-year-old arrived at their Pakenham stable earlier in the year.
Formerly prepared by Daniel Morton, Buthelezi is owned in the same interests as recent Andrew Ramsden winner Zakouma, and was sent to the Moody and Coleman stable with the explicit aim of trying to win the Derby, a race Moody has won previously with Riva San (2008) and Brambles (2012).
“I’ve only had him for the two starts,” Moody said.
“He ran fifth in the West Australian Guineas and won two races over there, and here he’s run third in a (benchmark) 70 at Caulfield and then ran third in open three-year-old at Flemington.
“When he was sent over from Perth, they wanted him for the Queensland Derby.
“He’s coming along well and he drew wide, went back to last and then circled them. He was the winner and then he peaked last time.
“A different one wins these types of three-year-old races every week, so we might as well give it a go.”
Bruthelezi has drawn barrier 13 and was rated a $17 chance after the final field was declared on Tuesday.
Chris Waller, who notched up his 200th Group 1 win when Birdman took out the Doomben Cup last Saturday, is chasing a third Queensland Derby success in the past six year.
Waller has four runners safely in the field – Kilman (barrier 3), Providence (8), Monopolistic (17) and Defendant (11) – along with fifth emergency Eynesbury (21).
Moody and Coleman have a strong hand in the other Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Desert Lightning lining up in the Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m).
Desert Lightning, who made a name for himself as a middle-distance horse in New Zealand, has been transformed into a sprinter under Moody and Coleman’s care.
The gelding is coming off a last start win in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and has drawn gate seven in Saturday’s race.
“He’s going there in good shape,” Moody said.
“I went to Adelaide very confident and if we can win another one, it would be a bonus.
“He was unlucky in the Straddie last year and he’s always been around the mark.
“We tried him at 1800 (metres), we tried him at a mile, he just didn’t see it out, so 1400 (metres), is probably his sweet spot.”
Jimmysstar heads the market for the Kingsford Smith at $4 after drawing barrier 15 while the $6 second pick Private Eye has gate two.
Rothfire, who was a last start winner of the Doomben 10,000 has gate eight, with Fangirl, from the Chris Waller yard, drawn outside of Jimmysstar in barrier 16.
