A good result this weekend could see Lights Of Heaven aimed at the Cox Plate
Peter Moody is hopeful Lights Of Heaven can continue her unbeaten race record when she contests the Group 3 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse this weekend.
The successful Melbourne trainer will be looking for signs that the four-year-old mare can continue on to the $3 million Cox Plate in October.
“From the Lawrence and the Makybe, I would determine whether we look at a Cox Plate path if she appears to have the necessary attributes for that,” Moody said.
“Or we could come back a cog and look at the Caulfield Cup and that’s as long as we believe she’ll get a mile and a half (2400m) because even though she’s a Zabeel she has quite a deal of brilliance and what distances that’s going to carry her over I’m not sure.
“Or whether we are just back in races like the Toorak and Epsom Handicaps.
“There are quite a lot of options and we’ll learn quite a deal in the next six weeks with her.
“I’d be very surprised if we had to come back to mares’ grade.
“At the least I think she’s going to be a nice handicapper.”
Lights Of Heaven is said to have come back in even better condition following her recent spell.
“She’s done particularly well. She hasn’t got any taller, she’s not an overly-tall mare but she’s certainly strengthened and matured mentally as well as physically,” Moody said.
“Her trial here a couple of weeks back at Caulfield was super. Luke (Nolen) was quite amazed at her turn of foot.”
While Moody is not looking to compare Lights Of Heaven to her superstar stablemate Black Caviar, he admits that she appears destined to reach the great heights of horses such as Typhoon Tracy.
“She’s building that same sort of imposing record although she’s a different type of mare,” Moody said.
“This one has stretched out to a mile and a quarter (2000m) at her fourth start whereas Typhoon Tracy only had one run at the trip.
“But I think she’s got terrific upside and she’s very untapped.
“I don’t want to put the kiss of death on her and suggest she’s at either of their levels.
“But four from four and a Group One on her resume, it’s hard to suggest she’s not going to measure up to top grade.”
The lightly raced Lights Of Heaven has already has prize money of more than $367,000 to her name.
