Former New Zealand mare Floria is primed to strike for the Peter Moody stable in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Red Tracer (blinkers) and Floria (nose roll) fight out the finish of the Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.
At her third run for the premiership trainer, Floria ran Red Tracer to a head when second in the Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
Stable rider Luke Nolen will again be aboard Floria and will have to earn his cheque this week after the Savabeel mare drew barrier eleven in the sixteen horse field.
Moody is aware that Floria will have to get all the breaks if she is to turn the tables on Red Tracer after jumping from the inside gate last start, but has an early advantage over Red Tracer who came up with the outside gate.
“She’ll need all the breaks and all the luck, but she was very competitive the other day,” Moody said.
Moody admits that the five year old’s best distance is 1600m but decided to freshened her up to give her a chance to chase a Group 1 win.
“She was good the other day behind Red Tracer, she probably wants a mile but it’s the only race there so I’ve endeavoured to keep her fresh and chase a bit of Group 1 glory,” Moody said.
“She has had three runs and has gone super on each occasion but she just strikes as a miler more than a 1400 metre type of horse.”
Floria was a Group 3 winner in New Zealand before being transferred to Moody who produced her for a first up second to Skyerush in the Group 2 $175,000 M. J. Bale Emancipation Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 27.
The in-form Guy Walter trained mare will be one of the hardest to beat again this week and has drawn one to the outside of Floria.
Walter has two strong chances with his top mare Streama to carry the number one saddlecloth and has come up with the coveted inside barrier.
Hugh Bowman takes over from the suspended Glen Boss who rode the mare when a fast finishing third to Linton in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.
John Thompson’s improving filly Peron faces the toughest test of her short career to date and will jump from gate thirteen.
Peron made it six wins from seven starts and remained undefeated this preparation beating Skating On Ice and Doubtfilly in the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing World Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich last Saturday.
Victorian mare Yosei will get back from gate five with Michelle Payne having to ride for luck to win her second Tattersall’s Tiara after the pair took out the fillies and mares Group 1 two years ago.
