Premiership winning trainer Peter Moody has given the go ahead for Dissident to head towards the Cox Plate after the rising four year old ran a pleasing second at the Doomben barrier trials on Tuesday.
Dissident to head towards the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Dissident and stablemate Better Land were originally left out of the trial fields after a mix from RISA and Moody was grateful that Racing Queensland was able to include them in the fields.
“There was a mix-up at RISA and neither horse was in the original trial fields. I have to thank RQ for helping fix things up so they could run,” Moody told AAP.
Leading Brisbane jockey Michael Cahill rode both the Moody trained gallopers and gave the leading trainer a glowing report on Dissident’s second to the Steve O’Dea trained Itchintowin over the 1000m.
“Michael Cahill rode him in the trial and he was also happy with the way he went,” Moody said.
“His ultimate goal will be the Cox Plate in October.”
“We thought it’s a good time to give him his chance at a race like the Cox Plate, but only time will tell if it’s the right call.”
“The one thing with him is that he’s improved every preparation and if that trend continues he could prove up to the top level.”
Dissident was a consistent performer at Group 1, 2 and 3 level before winning the Group 1 $600,000 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 15 during this year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Dissident will now head back to Sydney where he will kick off his Spring Carnival campaign before continuing on to Melbourne to run in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
The Group 2 $175,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 23 at weight for age looks a good starting for point for Dissident.
And if Moody was to follow a weight for age program, the Sebring entire could run in the Group 2 $175,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) on September 6 and the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) a fortnight later, both at Randwick.
Moody was also pleased with the effort of Better Land who was able to win his 1000m trial and the top trainer expects the Shamardal colt to shine in the Spring.
“He is a nice horse and he might have a start in Brisbane before we bring him back south. I would be looking at some of the nice three-year-old races for him,” Moody said.
