Miss Cover Girl draws ideally at 2 in George Moore Stakes

First up specialist Miss Cover Girl has drawn ideally at barrier two for her return to the race track in the Group 3 $200,000 IPG Connect George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Miss Cover Girl, above, is resuming in the George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Miss Cover Girl, above, is resuming in the George Moore Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Miss Cover Girl’s first up record is impeccable with three wins and three placings from six attempts and she will be having her first run back since winning the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

Trainer Kelly Schweida has given her two barrier trials in preparation for her Summer Carnival pipe opener and is confident that she is fit enough to be very competitive in the George Moore Stakes.

The five year old mare ran second in a 1050m Deagon trial on September 20 then stepped out again over the same course and distance to win her trial on November 29.

“It was a good trial and she was only in it to get some conditioning,” Schweida told Racing Queensland News.

“She beat Steel Zip but she had no plates on and didn’t carry much weight with Amelia Denby on board.”

Miss Cover Girl settled back in the field to win the Tattersall’s Club Tiara and Schweida expects Damian Browne to adopt the same tactics in the George Moore Stakes.

“She’s become a little wiser as she’s got older and she now seems to race best getting back,” Schweida said.

“It’s a very strong field with a lot of chances but I’m confident she’ll run well.

“She comes in well at the weights with Big Money in the field.”

The Rodney Northam trained Big Money will carry the number one saddlecloth with 59.5kg  and will jump from barrier six with regular rider Robert Thompson in the saddle again.

Big Money is also resuming from a short break and is having his first run since finishing fifth of five in the Group 2 $175,000 Mark Moran Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 6.

Team Snowden has accepted with That’s A Good Idea who has drawn barrier nine in the eleven horse George Moore Stakes field with Glen Colless booked to ride.

That’s A Good Idea is also an acceptor for the Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, drawing barrier nine with Tye Angland down to ride.

The Flying Spur seven year old hasn’t raced since running fourth to Lunar Rise in the $100,000 All Our Mob Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on November but has run second to Rebel Dane in a 1000m Rosehill barrier trial on November 22.

The Desleigh Forster trained Too Good To Refuse has drawn barrier one with Jim Byrne in the saddle and is coming off a last start win in the Listed $100,000 Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on November 19.

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.