Lidari is currently available at the lengthy 2014 Doncaster Mile odds of $61, but trainer Peter Moody is confident that the imported galloper can be competitive in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Lidari is one of three Peter Moody-trained horses that have been included in the 2014 Doncaster Mile field. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Lidari started his autumn preparation with a seventh place finish in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 22 before scoring his maiden win at Group level in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 8.
The Acclamation entire was far from disgraced when ninth at weight-for-age level in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and drops back in weight seven kilograms for the Doncaster Mile this weekend; with Moody confident that the five-year-old can factor in the finish of the $3 million event after jumping from barrier six.
“He can improve,” Moody told TVN.
“He missed the kick slightly in the Ryder and got back further than we wanted, but wacked away nice.
“He can sit closer to the speed from a nice draw and he can be competitive in this race.”
While Moody is bullish about the chances of Lidari in the Doncaster Mile, he is less optimistic about Fat Al who is currently the outside of the field at odds of $151.
Fat Al has previously had success over the famous Royal Randwick mile, winning the 2012 Epsom Handicap in impressive fashion, but Moody said that he would be most surprised if the Al Maher gelding was able to repeat that performance in the Doncaster Mile on Saturday after the five-year-old was beaten by almost ten lengths in the George Ryder Stakes.
“I still haven’t worked out how he won the Epsom; I haven’t seen that ability in him at all,” Moody said.
“He has done well, he is in good shape, but he got beat about half a lap in the George Ryder and I think that he is where he sits in the food chain.
“There are softer options for him, but the owners want a ticket to the races.”
Punters rate Dissident as Moody’s best chance in the Group 1 mile this weekend and the son of Sebring is currently available at Doncaster Mile odds of $19.
Moody is chasing his first win in the Doncaster Mile after missing the placings with Typhoon Tracy (beaten as favourite in 2010) and Sky Cuddle (eighth in 2005).
