A more suitable distance in the Lough Neagh Stakes means talented mare Peace Force will chase further black-type success in Brisbane rather than Sydney on Saturday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan had entered Peace Force for the $100,000 second leg of the Brisbane summer triple crown over 1350m as well as the Group Two Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
Peace Force has a good record in stakes races having run in six-black type events for a win and four minor placings including three seconds in Group Three company.
Her best win to date was in the Group Three Glenlogan Stakes at Doomben in May and Ryan considered her good enough to set her for the Group One Tatts Tiara at the Gold Coast.
However, she failed to run because of an eye infection and was put away for the spring and summer.
At her most recent start Peace Force was third in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill and three runs back she was second in the Group Three Nivison Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Ryan said Peace Force was probably better dropping back to 1350m rather than stepping up to the 1600m of the Villiers.
“Peace Force has had three goes at 1600 metres and been beaten every time,” Ryan said.
“She did run second in the Belle Of The Turf at Gosford but at 1600 metres in good company the last little bit probably finds her out.
“She has won at 1350 metres at Doomben in stakes company.
“She is a half-sister to Eremein (the Australian Derby winner) and is already a valuable mare so another black-type win will obviously be good for her,” Ryan said.
Peace Force was originally with John O’Shea and has been at Ryan’s stables for about a year.
The mare, who has returned nearly $450,000 on her $80,000 price tag at the Magic Millions Sales, is raced by some of Ryan’s biggest owners Glenn and Viive Williams and the Laing family.
“I have had a bit of success for them and they are good owners,” he said.
Peace Force is being aimed at the Magic Millions Cup or Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race on January 9.
Ryan wants to study the entries for both before committing her to a specific race.
Tye Angland, who will be in Brisbane for the State of Origin jockey series, will ride Peace Force.
Meanwhile, trainer Peter Moody has booked Glen Boss for late-entry Weinholt in the Lough Neagh.
Moody is also aiming at the Magic Millions with Weinholt who won his last start in the City of Ballarat Plate two weeks ago.
Weinholt ran sixth in the 2014 Magic Millions Guineas as a three-year-old when considered one of the unlucky runners.
