Cockram Stakes winner Octavia is heading back to her favourite track and distance to chase another Group race victory at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Michael Moroney-trained mare drops back to 1200m in the Sportingbet Sprint Series Stakes after finishing sixth to Commanding Jewel in her first attempt at 1400m in her last start in the Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington.
Moroney said the four-year-old mare was “a shade disappointing” at Flemington so they have shelved the longer distance plan for the meantime.
Octavia has won three of her four starts over the Caulfield 1200m including the Cockram Stakes and the Listed Kevin Hayes Stakes.
Under the set weights and penalties conditions Octavia will carry equal top weight of 58kg.
“She’s not a big filly so just the weight would be a question mark for her,” Moroney said.
Octavia, who likes to get to the front in her races, has the inside barrier after drawing wide at her last start.
“We didn’t have much option last start at Flemington because we drew wide, but from barrier one we have some options,” Moroney said.
He said there was another 1200m race for mares coming up and one up the straight at Flemington during the carnival that could be on Octavia’s to-do list.
Moroney will be relying on some scratchings for another of his horses on Saturday with Zabisco the second emergency in the Group Three Naturalism Stakes.
“He’s a nice horse that just kept improving and, being by Zabeel, you would expect him to keep improving,” Moroney said.
