Trainer Peter Moody has chosen the softer option for his improving sprinter Thermal Current and will run the three year old against his own age in the Group 3 $135,000 Zedative Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Thermal Current will kick off his Autumn Carnival campaign in the Zedative Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Moody had been impressed with the improvement Thermal Current had shown in the Spring and had been toying with the idea of taking on the older horses in the Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate (1100m) especially with only 50kgs to contend.
Thermal Currrent has recovered from a minor blood disorder which forced him out of the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington last Saturday and will kick off his Autumn Carnival campaign this weekend.
“His blood was good yesterday so he had a gallop here (at Caulfield) this morning and his work was pleasing,” Moody told AAP yesterday.
“He’s a three-year-old sprinter and I think he’s improved rapidly off his spring campaign.”
Thermal Current has drawn the outside of the nine horse field and will be ridden by Luke Nolen who is hoping to be fit after having to give up his Sportingbet Park rides at Sandown today because of illness.
The David Hayes trained Fast ‘N’ Rocking with the blinkers back on from barrier four and the Mick Price’s Lion Of Belfort from the inside gate look two of the toughest opposition with both three year old having the benefit a run under their belts.
Fast ‘N’ Rocking ran fifth to Bull Point in the Group 3 $135,000 John Moule Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 1 while Lion Of Belfort finished sixth to Lankan Rupee in the Group 2 $175,000 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Not Listenin’tome (barrier 2) from the Hawkes stable will also be hard to beat if he can repeat the effort that saw him run second to Zoustar in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.
Moody could possibly have two runners in the Oakleigh Plate now with Flamberge drawing barrier eighteen while Brilliant Bisc is the first emergency coming up with gate six.
