Premier trainer Peter Moody has three strong chances to deliver his first Caulfield Cup victory heading into Saturday’s 2400m Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup at Caulfield.
Peter Moody has three horses in the Caulfield Cup, including Lights Of Heaven who drew barrier 8. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Moody’s luck at the barrier draw today was mixed with Lights Of Heaven, barrier eight and Sneak A Peek, barrier ten drawing favourably while imported Italian stayer Voila Ici came up with the wide gate at seventeen.
Schweppes Oaks winner Lights Of Heaven gets a slight nod from Moody ahead of the his two imported stayers and stable rider Luke Nolan will take over from Joshua Parr who has been riding the mare in her Sydney lead up races.
“More sentiment than anything,” Moody said of Lights Of Heaven, his pick for the 2400m Handicap.
“I had her from day one where the other two are both in their first preps with me.”
Moody is also giving Voila Ici, who is to be ridden again by Vlad Duric, a strong chance even though he has drawn off the track but his ability to race in a forward position will help him overcome the wide gate.
“Voila Ici’s form I think has been very good for this sort of race, his racing pattern you would think will suit this race, he’s a Group 2 2800m winner in France which seems to be the best staying form in the world for the last four or five years,” Moody said.
The leading trainer also gave a good rapt for his other Italian import Sneak A Peek who Moody says can do better than his three runs in Australia have shown with Glen Boss picking up the ride.
“Sneak A Peek has worked every bit as good as any of these horses at home including Manighar whose been the weight for age star of Australian racing,” Moody said.
“So that’s where I draw the positive for him, and he’s raced without luck in his three runs here but continues to thrive in the stable.”
Sneak A Peek is stepping up to a suitable distance for the first time since being under the care of Moody who has graduated the five year old from 1400m at his first Australian start at Caulfield on September 1 followed by a fifth in the Group 2 $300,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 15.
And Moody wasn’t disappointed with his effort when seventh to Green Moon in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6.
But Moody is very pleased with the preparation of Lights Of Heaven and has her ready to perform at her top on Saturday.
“Lights Of Heaven has done the job in the Autumn into the Winter in Brisbane and I was very pleased with her last run in Sydney. She’s had the four weeks into this which I think is not a disadvantge for a Zabeel mare, five year old, prime of her life, cherry ripe and drawn well,” Moody said.
“I’m very pleased with my three going in. I’m going to have one up front, one forward of midfield and one in the second half if the pace is dynamite.”
Lights Of Heaven is on the fourth line of betting at $12 while Sneak A Peek is the next of Moody’s runners at $16 with Voila Ici drifting out to $21 after drawing wide out on the track.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Glencadam Gold remains the $4.80 favourite despite drawing outside of Voila Ici while last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, who drew the extreme outside gate is at $7 just ahead of December Draw at $7.50.
