A change of plans for the Peter Moody trained Lidari will see the French import go to Sydney to run in the Group 1 $500,000 The Star Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 5.
Lidari to head to Sydney for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moody scratched Lidari from tomorrow’s Group 1 $400,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield tomorrow believing that he has better chance of winning the Randwick feature ‘Mile’.
The premiership winning trainer saw Lidari run his best race from five starts for the stable since arriving from Europe before the Autumn Carnival when he finished a close third to Fiorente in the Group 2 $300,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 14.
“I think that Fiorente form is pretty good,” Moody told Racing Network.
“If Fiorente was in the Epsom he would just about be favourite and we finished a head behind him the other day.
“I would like to think we go up there in pretty good shape and happy with where he is at.”
At his first preparation for Moody, Lidari was placed twice at Flemington in open company and was then put out after finishing fifth over 2000m again at Flemington.
But Moody was able weave his magic and produced the five year old for a first up win over 1400m at Caulfield before stepping up sharply in class to be placed at Group 2 level.
Lidari is currently marked as a $26 chance in the Epsom Handicap which sees the Guy Walter trained Toydini at $5 and Chris Waller’s Boban at $5.50 fighting it out for favouritism.
Toydini gained his place in the Epsom Handicap with a well deserved win in the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Bright Lager Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 18 while Boban forced himself into contention with a three and three quarter lengths win in the Group 3 $125,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Walter will saddle up two top chances with Streama, the third favourite at $9, coming off a win in the Group 1 $350,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last week.
