Premier trainer Peter Moody is hoping race fitness will be enough to help King’s Rose get through the mud at Randwick on Saturday.
The former New Zealand mare has one win from three starts on the slow and is yet to race on a heavy surface but Moody says she is in rock hard condition and that will go a long way to see her be competitive in the Group 1 $2m Doncaster Mile (1600m) on a track that is already rated a heavy 9 with more rain forecast for Sydney heading into the weekend.
King's Rose has good race fitness for the Doncaster Mile at Randwick - photo (c) Taron Clarke
“The horses that are rock-hard fit they tend to get through it and even if they don’t get through the going, it doesn’t hurt them,” Moody said.
From the nine alley Moody expects jockey Luke Nolen to ride King’s Rose back in the field after being forced to have her on the speed at her last start when third to More Joyous in the Group 1 $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on April 7.
In the Doncaster, from the nine alley and wet ground, it is probably the ideal gate for her,” Moody said.
“We will be the stalker not the stalked this time.”
Moody is happy with King’s Rose going into the Doncaster with two group one placings at her latest two starts and is hoping the weights turn around with More Joyous compared to the Queen Of The Turf is enough to see his mare turn the tables on the Gai Waterhouse trained mare.
“We meet More Joyous a lot better at the weights after their clash in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes,” Moody said.
“Plus, I maintain King’s Rose’s run was every bit as good as Secret Admirer’s in the Coolmore Classic. If we had her run or Ofcourseican’s run, then she wins.
“So, if the bookies have More Joyous and Secret Admirer as Doncaster favourites, then I take great heart from that.”
King’s Rose came from midfield when third to Ofcourseican and Secret Admirer in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24 then was forced to race on the pace from the outside barrier when third to More Joyous.
Owner John Singleton is not keen to start More Joyous on a heavy track after failing in the Doncaster last year on a similar surface but bookies still have her as favourite at $6, just ahead of last year’s Epsom winner Secret Admirer at $6.50.
While King’s Rose is still at $15, noted wet tracker Sincero has firmed a couple of points from $12 to $10.
The 2011 Stradbroke Handicap winner is to be ridden by in form big race jockey Craig Williams and has shown in the past that the wet conditions won’t be a worry with a five lengths win in the Listed $250,000 De Bortoli Wines Gosford Guineas last April on a heavy 10.
