A heavy track holds no fears for trainer Peter Moody as he sets his consistent five-year-old Club Command on a Melbourne autumn trail at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
The Sunshine Coast meeting has been given metropolitan status and Club Command is favourite for the $100,000 Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).
Club Command was an excellent third behind Velrosso and Phelan Ready in the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on January 11 at his first run from a spell.
Moody, who is in New Zealand buying yearlings, said Club Command had been behind in his campaign as he missed his lead-up run the Magic Millions Cup.
“He looked like winning at the 200m but then he just peaked a bit. I left him up there because I thought the Sunshine Coast race would be perfect for him,” Moody said.
Club Command will head home to Melbourne for the autumn carnival after Sunday’s run.
“I have even nominated him for the VRC Newmarket. I’m not saying he will run in it and he is more likely to tackle the next level down,” he said.
“But he is a consistent horse and I have an opinion of him.”
He said Club Command, who has only been out of place once in 14 starts, was good in the wet, winning two and being placed twice on slow and heavy tracks.
Jockey Blake Shinn will resume from a suspension on Club Command and has two other rides on the day.
He hasn’t ridden since Magic Millions day after being suspended for his ride on Takewing at Randwick on New Years Day.
The Sunshine Coast can be a tricky track to ride and in particular on days when it’s heavy.
Moody, who trained many Sunshine Coast winners when based in Queensland, will warn Shinn to be aware of the ridge in the straight which can cause bias on wet days.
