Brambles Can Take Winning Form Into Melbourne Cup

Trainer Peter Moody is confident that Brambles can take winning form into the 2014 Melbourne Cup by taking out the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Trainer Peter Moody believes that Brambles is capable of winning the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Trainer Peter Moody believes that Brambles is capable of winning the 2014 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Brambles is the only horse in the Mackinnon Stakes field that is guaranteed a start in the Melbourne Cup and Moody believes that the fact the Savabeel gelding will be backing up in ‘the race that stops a nation’ three days later is clouding the judgment of bookmakers and punters; with the talented gelding currently available at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $13 despite finishing third in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4 and fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.

“I am really pleased with him and he is in great condition and great shape,” Moody told Racing Ahead this morning.

“I would suggest on his best form, if he wasn’t running in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, that he would be close to favourite on his previous couple of runs and that is the way that I am approaching it.

“He is in the race up to his ears, he will race forward, his form around the trip is very strong and he will run very well.”

Brambles is currently on the seventh line of Mackinnon Stakes, while Rising Romance ($5.50), Criterion ($5.50) and He’s Your Man ($5.50) are locked in a battle for favouritism for the Group 1 event.

Moody is set to have two runners in the 2014 Melbourne Cup field and Lidari will join his stablemate in the Group 1 event at Flemington next Tuesday.

Lidari has also not been seen at the races since he finished sixth behind Admire Rakti in the Caulfield Cup, but Moody is happy to send the Acclamation entire straight into the Melbourne Cup without running on Victoria Derby Day.

“He is super,” Moody said.

“He wasn’t in need of anymore and he will have his final piece of work at Caulfield tomorrow morning.

“He will head there on Tuesday in great shape.”

Lidari is yet to record a race win during his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but he has performed consistently in races like the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m), Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup.

Brambles is currently available at 2014 Melbourne Cup odds of $26, while Lidari is priced at a quote of $41.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.