Carlyon Stakes favourite Heatherly can secure a start in the Group 1 $500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29 with a tip top performance on Saturday.

Heatherly, above, can earn a start in the Moir Stakes with a good performance in the Carlyon Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Heatherly, above, can earn a start in the Moir Stakes with a good performance in the Carlyon Stakes at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Heatherly is currently the $2.25 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Listed $120,000 SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley and co-trainer Mathew Ellerton said if the mare races up to expectation she will be tested out at Group 1 level again.

“She’s wound up enough and the run will improve her but she’s got the miles in the legs for Saturday,” Ellerton said.

“The Moir is the target so we’ll pick our way there. She’s restricted to short courses and hopefully we can get to the Moir in one piece.”

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained Heatherly has raced on four occasions at Group 1 level for two placings, a third in the $500,000 Clamms Seafood Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and was runner up to Extreme Choice in last year’s Moir Stakes.

Heatherly is resuming in the Carlyon Stakes following a luckless eighth to Russian Revolution in the Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18 and has drawn nicely at barrier two in the thirteen horse field.

Damian Lane will continue his association with Heatherly in the Carlyon Stakes with the pair’s most recent victory together being two starts back with an all the way win in the Listed $120,000 ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington on March 4.

Heatherly has also shown her liking for The Valley with three wins, a second and two thirds from six starts there which includes a win in last year‘s Carlyon Stakes and her 2016 Moir Stakes second.

On the second line of betting for the Carlyon Stakes at $6 is the Darren Weir trained Speedeor just ahead of the Robbie Laing trained Missrock at $7 and El Divino at $8.

Ben Melham has taken the ride on Missrock (barrier 4) who is having her first run back after finishing a game second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville during the 2017 Adelaide Autumn Carnival.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.