Moody expecting bold showing from Braccenby in Vain Stakes

Four times Melbourne premiership winning trainer Peter Moody expects a bold first up showing from Braccenby in the Group 3 $150,000 KS Environmental Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Braccenby in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Braccenby in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The More That Ready colt is still eligible for a maiden but he has shown Moody enough ability to warrant a crack at the Group 3 contest for the three year old colts and geldings.

Braccenby showed plenty of promise at his first race when third to the brilliant Fontiton in the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) for the two year olds at Moonee Valley during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

He followed that up with a fifth to Of The Brave in the Group 3 $150,000 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield during the Autumn and was then sent for a break after finishing sixth to Look To The Stars in a 1200m Warwick Farm two year old Handicap in March.

“He’s always shown us above average ability and when we had a look at the race we thought it was worthwhile having a throw at the stumps,” Moody told AAP.

“I was looking forward to taking him to a provincial maiden and giving him an easy kill and I can always do that if he gets beaten on Saturday.”

Braccenby was also an acceptor in the 3yo Maiden Plate (1105m) at Sale on Thursday but was scratched after drawing barrier twenty in the sixteen plus four emergencies field.

Big race jockey Kerrin McEvoy has the ride on Braccenby and has come up with barrier three in the eleven horse field.

Moody will also saddle up Gold Symphony in the Vain Stakes and is hoping the Reward For Effort colt will measure up to Stakes company with Glen Boss to ride from barrier five.

Gold Symphony produced a two lengths win on debut in a 1200m Mornington two year old maiden on July 2 then ran second to runaway winner Jalan Jalan over 1200m at Flemington in an Open two year old Handicap on July 18.

“He’s a nice horse in form and has residual fitness from the winter and we’ll see whether he measures up,” Moody said.

Gold Symphony and Braccenby are both prominent in the market order for the Vain Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au at $4.60 and $7.50 respectively with the Danny O’Brien trained Ragazzo Del Corsa at the top of the betting at $3.50.

Vain Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Ragazzo Del Corsa, $4.60 Gold Symphony, $5.50 Demonstrate, $7.50 Braccenby, $10 Stoker, Top Me Up, $13 Star Planet, Tuscany Hero, $21 Royalic, Equinova, $101 Assertive Star.

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.