Mogador looking for a dry track for W J Healy Stakes

Trainer John O’Shea is hoping for a drying Eagle Farm track for Mogador who is one of the top fancies for the Group 3 $175,000 W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Mogador, above, royal blue colours, is one of the top fancies for the W J Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mogador, above, royal blue colours, is one of the top fancies for the W J Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Mogador is on the second line of betting at $4.40 at Ladbrokes.com.au but O’Shea said that the Lonhro colt runs his best races on top of the ground.

“The only thing is that he is at his best on a dry track, the firmer the better, so we’re hoping it dries out a bit,” O’Shea said.

Mogador’s wet track record shows one win and one second from five attempts while his dry track results are one win and two placings from five goes.

The Eagle Farm track was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday morning with the Bureau Of Meteorology forecasting showers in the lead up to the weekend with a sunny day on Saturday.

O’Shea considers Mogador well placed on the minimum 54kg in the Healy Stakes and new jockey Robbie Fradd should be able to give him a cosy run midfield from barrier one.

“The conditions of this race look ideal for him. It’s his right trip, right class and he comes in with a handy weight,” O’Shea said.

Mogador has only had one run during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and O’Shea was pleased with his effort when a nose second to Kamacite in the Listed $100,000 Suez Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) at Doomben May 28.

“He blew the start last time, so it was a good effort to get as close as he did,” O’Shea said.

The Team Snowden trained That’s A Good Idea will carry the top weight of 59.5kg and is also at the top of the market order for the Healy Stakes at $4.

That’s A Good Idea has drawn barrier two and is coming off a last start win in an 1100m Open Handicap at Randwick on May 28 and has the services of big race jockey Hugh Bowman in the Healy Stakes.

Market order for the W.J. Healy Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 That’s A Good Idea, $4.40 Mogador, $5.50 Odyssey Moon, $8 Into The Red, Tina Melina, $12 Saluter, $15 Shamalia, $16 Blackboard Special, $19 Dream Choice, $26 Hotel Drive, $31 Mana Manu, $34 Rock Royalty, $51 Final Crescendo.

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.