Moudre has not been victorious since his win in the Group 3 Queen’s Cup during the 2010 Melbourne Cup Carnival but trainer Ciaron Maher is confident that the injury-plagued gelding can return to the winners circle in the Listed The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Moudre will compete at Listed level for the first time since 2010 in The Bart Cummings. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Maher confirmed that Moudre would run in The Bart Cummings this morning, with the eight-year-old also included in the nominations for the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), and told RSN he believes this is the easiest race the veteran gelding has contested for a number of years.
“Moudre may be touch and go getting into the field for the Turnbull,” Maher said.
“It is quite a strong race and he gets in well into The Bart Cummings and it is probably as soft a race as he has contested for a little while.”
“He is in good form so hopefully we can get him into winning form.”
Moudre has performed since returning to the races; finishing third for the second year in a row in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7 before running home strongly in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield just over a week ago.
Maher has been delighted with the form of the son of Blevic and believes he will be perfectly suited to the step-up in distance this weekend.
“He came through it great; his sectionals were really good,” Maher said.
“Obviously with the slow tempo he was never a winning chance and I don’t think he could have run any better under the circumstances.
“He has pulled up well and he is a very relaxed customer.
“Out to the 2500 he will just bowl along and hopefully there is a bit of speed in the race and he will be hitting the line again.”
Moudre has been included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) but Maher revealed this morning that the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 23 was the major 2013 Spring Racing Carnival target for the stayer.
“Geelong Cup is probably his target after The Bart Cummings,” the Caulfield-based trainer said.
“The Melbourne Cup is his aim but I’ve placed a fair bit of emphasis on the Geelong Cup.”
Moudre finished second behind Melbourne Cup winner Americain in the 2010 edition of the Geelong Cup.
