Trainer Gai Waterhouse has confirmed that both the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Sunday both remain possible options for star mare Sweet Idea.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse is yet to decide what races Sweet Idea will contest this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Sweet Idea was expected to have her next race start in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes after she finished second behind Dissident in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30, but she was included in the nominations for the Moir Stakes that were released yesterday.
“Will she run Friday night or will she run Sunday,” Waterhouse told TVN.
“I just have to see.
“A lot of the owners have booked their trips already, so I just have to work out what is best for the mare and what is best for the owners.”
Sweet Idea has never previously had a race start at Moonee Valley, but she gave Waterhouse every indication that she could handle the tight-turning circuit in the Moir Stakes on Friday night after producing an impressive trackwork gallop at the venue yesterday morning.
Waterhouse said that she was very happy with the work of Sweet Idea and is confident that the daughter of Snitzel is a winning chance in whatever race she contests this weekend.
“She was very professional,” Waterhouse said.
“She just took herself into the gallop very relaxed.
“She worked terrific, she is all professionalism, knows exactly what she is going to do and didn’t waste a penny.
“She keeps it all for raceday.
“She won’t be looking around on race day, she will just be looking towards the winning post.
“She ran very good time and she is just a true professional.”
Sweet Idea has won at Group level on three occasions, but she is still chasing her maiden victory at the highest level of racing.
The talented mare made her Group 1 debut with a third place finish behind stablemate Overreach in the 2013 edition of the Golden Slipper and she returned to Group 1 level with a fast-finishing second in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
Sweet Idea failed to fire on a wet track in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12, but she produced another genuine effort when second in the Memsie Stakes at the end of last month.
Waterhouse is chasing her first race win in both the Moir Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
