Floria will be stepping up to 2200 metres for the first time in her racing career in the 2014 Eagle Farm Cup on Saturday and Jeff O’Connor, the racing manager for trainer Peter Moody, is happy with her form heading into the Group 2 event.
Floria is chasing the first win of her preparation in the 2014 Eagle Farm Cup in Brisbane this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Floria stepped up to 2000 metres in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on May 17 and worked home fairly to finish sixth in what was her first start over the trip since she finished 12 in the 2013 Trentham Stakes (2100m) when prepared by Stephen McKee in New Zealand.
O’Connor told Racing Ahead that he was happy with the performance of Floria in the Group 1 event and believes that she has earned an opportunity to step up to 2200 metres in the Eagle Farm Cup this weekend.
“We felt last start that if she could have settled a pair closer she would have finished a pair closer and in the placings, so we are very happy to try her at 2200,” O’Connor said.
“I think that she is going as good as any horse in this race.
“If you look at the replay of her last start she held her ground with her.
“I am as confident as we can be, she has been a very honest mare and I don’t see her disappointing in this race.”
The 2014 Eagle Farm Cup is set to be a very interesting tactical race and with very little speed in the race the connections of both Mr O’Ceirin and Wistful have said publically they would not be afraid to lead in the early stages of the race.
O’Connor said that he will be leaving the riding instructions up to Luke Nolen, who will have the opportunity to access what his rival jockeys are doing, but is hoping that Floria can be sitting in the first half of the field.
“She can lead and I guess that is the unknown thing – you can’t control what other jockeys do,” O’Connor said.
“It is a small field and people are going to see that opportunity there.
“Mr O’Ceirin has gone forward before and I think the bottom one there can go forward.
“I think that it will probably be a look and see, but we would like to be in the first four.”
Floria is currently available at 2014 Eagle Farm odds of $10; with Akzar ($2.50) still a clear favourite from Wistful ($3.70), Moriarty ($4) and Mr O’Ceirin ($6).
