Connections of Group 1 winner Dissident have knocked back lucrative stud offers and will race the Sebring colt into new season starting with the up-coming Spring Carnival.
Dissident, white and blue, holds off Kiwi El Roca to win the Randwick Guineas at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Premiership winning trainer Peter Moody said that with several other top line three year olds heading off to stud duties, it has left an opportunity for Dissident to be competitive again at Group 1 level.
“From his age group, Shamus Award and Eurozone have been retired, and then there’s older horses like Fiorente who won’t be coming back, so we decided to race on for another season,” Moody told the Herald Sun.
“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 which attracted huge offers from Australia and New Zealand studs.
If Dissident returns to top form Moody will consider a start in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25, but first he will test the rising four year over 1600m at Group 1 level.
Dissident could return to Randwick for the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom (1600m) on October 4 before heading back to Melbourne for the Group 1 $400,000 David Jones NBCF Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11.
Moody sent Dissident to spell in Queensland after running twelfth to Sacred Falls on a heavy track in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 12 and has reported that the three year old is well advance into his Spring preparation.
In early Cox Plate market order with Ladbrokes.com.au, Dissident is rated a $41 chance with the Gai Waterhouse’s trained Carlton House the early favourite at $9 with Sacred Falls from the Chris Waller stable at $11 alongside of top class Kiwi mare Silent Achiever.
