Peter Moody has an idea of how well imported galloper Spanish Mission is preparing for the Melbourne Cup, but he wants to now see it under race conditions.
Scratched from the Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield last week, Spanish Mission is an acceptor in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
But what Moody does not want to do is run Spanish Mission on a significantly wet track and is prepared to bide his time until he gets the right conditions.
Those condition were not right at Caulfield last week and Moody said he was prepared to run Spanish Mission on a soft track at The Valley on Saturday but was likely to scratch if the ground was any worse.
Spanish Mission joined Moody’s stable after finishing third to Verry Elleegant and stablemate Incentivise in last year’s Melbourne Cup, the race the trainer has in his sights this year.
In four starts for Moody, the stayer has finished fourth, third on two occasions, and an inglorious last on heavy ground at Newcastle in the autumn.
It was that performance that convinced Moody to steer clear of any racing on heavy ground.
“He’s low flying at home,” Moody said.
“But I’d like to get a gallop into him and just see him under race conditions as to how he is going compared to what he’s showing me on the track at home.
“So, I’ll probably run him on soft ground, but not on a heavy track.
“He’s in too good an order to take the confidence away from him by running him on a heavy track.”
Should Spanish Mission bypass Saturday’s Group 2 race, Moody said there was the option of the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday week.
It was the race stablemate Incentivise won last year on his way to Caulfield Cup success.
“I may even look at Incentivises program,” Moody said.
“He didn’t kick off until the Makybe, so we can bide our time.
“We’ll get a dry track one day, hopefully it’s Melbourne Cup Day.”
