Makybe Diva’s little brother Rodway is favourite to make a winning introduction to city racing at Moonee Valley.
Three-year-old Rodway, a Street Cry half-brother to the three-time Melbourne Cup winner, failed to fire in two starts as a colt but made a winning return as a gelding at Kilmore last month.
Trainer Peter Moody has opted for Monday’s City Jeep Patriot Handicap (2040m) for Rodway’s first city test.
“It’s a quick step to 2000 metres but there’s just not a suitable race,” Moody said.
“There’s the three-year-old race on Friday night (Alister Clark Stakes) but I just thought I would give him one more at restricted level.”
Rodway was beaten just over five lengths in maidens at Sale and Seymour earlier in the season but showed the gelding operation had done the trick when he won a 1600m maiden by 4-3/4 lengths on Kilmore Cup day.
“The operation has brought him on,” Moody said.
“He won a bad race the other day, but we’ll see if he can do it again on Monday.”
Rodway is nominated for the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) next month but Moody said getting to a Derby wasn’t the focus.
“We’ll just let his form guide us along,” the trainer said.
Moody, winner of the past four Melbourne trainers’ premierships, will be trying to peg back the nine-win lead Darren Weir has this season.
Luke Nolen will ride Rodway who was the $2.60 TAB favourite on Sunday ahead of the Mick Kent-trained Accord at $5.
Accord’s stablemate, three-year-old filly Godiva Rock, is the odds-on favourite for the Essendon Hyundai Santa Fe Plate (1200m) as she looks to shed her maiden tag.
Godiva Rock has four placings from seven starts with her best performance a third in last year’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes.
