Trainer Mike Moroney has confirmed that talented filly Serenade will not contest the 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield next weekend.
Serenade finished an unlucky second behind Lady Jivago in the 2015 Inglis Classic. Photo by: Steve Hart
Serenade is currently sitting 19th in the Blue Diamond Stakes order of entry and would like qualify for a run in the Group 1 event, but Moroney told Sky Racing HQ that the juvenile had been sent to the spelling paddock for a freshen-up after her tough third place finish in the Inglis Classic (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 7.
Moroney confirmed that Serenade would have her next race start in the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14 and is a chance to back-up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) if she performs well in the lead-up event.
“She was a little bit tired after that torrid run at Rosehill, so we decided that we would miss the Blue Diamond,” Moroney said.
“We had her in the paddock and she is going to have 12 days off and she will be back in the stable by Friday.
“We are probably going to head towards the Magic Night and that will give us the opportunity to back her-up if we decide to go towards the Golden Slipper or the $500,000 fillies race over the Carnival.”
Serenade failed to fire on debut in The Entertainment Grounds Maiden (1000m) at Gosford on December 29, but the application on blinkers worked wonders for the daughter of Star Witness and she scored an impressive win in the Happy Australia Day Maiden (1200m) at Canterbury on January 26.
The two-year-old was well-backed in the lead-up to the Inglis Classic and she received no luck in running before finishing third, but Moroney believes that she will end up being the most talented horse coming out of that race.
“Hugh Bowman had a bit of trouble with the horse of Robbie Laing’s,” Moroney said.
“They ran from a standing start of 34.4 and home in 36.8, so they did it the wrong way and that just beat our filly.
“If you ran it ten times she would win it nine times out of ten, but the tenth time we didn’t win it.
“Once we applied the blinkers it has really sharpened her up and she is a real natural two-year-old.
“It looks as if she will be well-up with the better ones.”
Serenade is currently available at 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $51 with Ladbrokes Australia.
