Into The Red needs soft track for George Moore Stakes

Trainer Kelso Wood is praying for another afternoon thunderstorm to hit Eagle Farm today to give his sprinter Into The Red a better chance of winning the Group 3 $200,000 IPG Connect George Moore Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Into The Red, above, needs a soft track to produce his best in the George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Into The Red, above, needs a soft track to produce his best in the George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Into The Red’s best wins have been on rain affected tracks which include victories in the 2015 Listed $100,000 Ascot Handicap (1200m) at Doomben, the 2016 Listed $100,000 Bribie Handicap (1050m) at Doomben and the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm during this year’s Brisbane Winter Carnival.

The Eagle Farm track was rated a Good 4 on Friday morning but a typical Summer afternoon storm could give Wood a softer track for Into The Red.

“He is fit enough, jumped out really well and I’m very happy with the way he’s going, but I just want some give in the ground for him,” Wood told The Courier-Mail.

“He has a lot of feet issues and I just don’t want it to be too hard for him.”

Since his win in the Healy Stakes, Into The Red has been to the races on three occasions for a seventh to Smart Volatility on a good 4 track in the Listed $160,000 Crowe Horwath Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton on July 13 followed by seconds on soft 5 tracks in two 1200m Handicaps at Eagle Farm on August 6 and August 20.

Heavyweight jockey Luke Dittman takes over from apprentice Josh Oliver on Into The Red who has drawn barrier seven in the eleven horse George Moore Stakes field.

Into The Red is rated an $11 chance for the George Moore Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au who have last start Keith Noud Quality winner Too Good To Refuse as the $3.10 favourite.

On the second line of betting at $5 is the Tony Gollan trained Most Important who is coming off a last start third in the Keith Noud Quality while topweight Big Money and Group 1 Tattersall’s Club Tiara winner Miss Cover Girl share the third line of betting at $8.

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.