Co-owner Nick Williams has revealed that Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon is set to return to the races in the 2014 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 13.
Green Moon finished a close second behind Fiorente in the Australian Cup during his autumn campaign. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Green Moon has not been able to record a race win since his memorable Melbourne Cup triumph in 2012, but returned to his best form during his autumn campaign to finish a close fourth in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), second behind Fiorente in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and seventh in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Williams told Racing Ahead this morning that Green Moon is in excellent condition ahead of the start of his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he believes that the Montjeu entire will be quiet fit for his first-up tilt in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
“Green Moon is great,” Williams said.
“He is a marvelous old horse and I am looking forward to getting him to Flemington in a couple of weeks.
“He has plenty of residual fitness from last spring and we will kick him off over the mile at Flemington all things being well.
“We will go from there and see where it takes us.”
Green Moon has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), but Williams revealed last month that the stable were eyeing the $3.5 million handicap event at Caulfield on October 18 with the seven-year-old.
Williams said that the Caulfield Cup was still on top of the agenda for Green Moon, but said that he and his father Lloyd Williams would wait until they see how the tough stayer comes up before deciding on any concrete spring plans.
“I think that he has shown us enough that maybe the place to go with him is heading towards the Caulfield Cup,” Williams said.
“He has great form over 2400, he has run second in the race previously and these Melbourne Cup winners up in the weights have a pretty good record at Caulfield.
“Tentatively that is what we have in the back of our minds, but with all these horses we need to see where they take you.”
Green Moon made his debut at Group 1 level in the 2011 edition of the Caulfield Cup and he worked home strongly to finish second behind talented mare Southern Speed.
He is currently available at a quote of $41 in the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes Australia.
