Torah breaks maiden status – Good start for Moody at Valley

Torah

Torah

A track conducive to backmarkers aided by a speed war up front all played into the hands of Torah in the Essendon Jeep Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley today.

Before today, the Peter Moody-trained filly was a six race maiden but consistent with four placings prior to this last to first win.

Five horses spread across the track in the opening 400m with Beautiful Boudica holding the rail and lead.

The worst served was the well fancied Twilighting $3.40 favourite, who was caught wide before moving into second at the half way mark.

As she got there pressure was applied from the back with Manhatten Maid and Classic Elle taking on the front two at the 500m mark.

Jockey Luke Nolen, aboard Torah, carted up behind Manhatten Maid and swept to the front at the turn.

Bliss Street, who also stayed out of the early and mid-race war, followed Torah and though making ground on her in the straight never looked like winning.

Torah $8 defeated Bliss Street $10 by one and a quarter lengths with Classic Elle $3.50 a further half-length away for a courageous third.

That trio finished well in front of the rest of the field.

It was great start of the day for trainer Peter Moody.

And many are already penciling in a winning double with his champion mare Black Caviar to race in the Schweppes Stakes (1200m) later in the day.

Moody was happy with Torah.

“She has found a track were the pattern (of racing) wasn’t against her, she could have won her past two starts but the track played against her both times,” Moody said.

“She was stakes-placed as a two-year-old, she has got some nice upside, she is a filly with a bit of promise, we are not shooting for the stars but she will measure up to a Group 3 or maybe something slightly better in the autumn.”

Luke Nolen said although he may have got to the lead a tad early, the daughter of Spinning World responded well when asked to go.

Finish No. Horse Jockey Trainer Weight Margin
1st 7 TORAH(9) Luke Nolen Peter G Moody 53.0 1-37.08
2nd 1 BLISS STREET(2) Steven Arnold Daniel Morton 59.5 1.3L
3rd 4 CLASSIC ELLE(4) Corey Brown Tony Vasil 53.0 1.8L
4th 6 FLAME OF LANKA(3) Craig Williams David Hayes 53.0 5.3L
5th 2 EURYALE(1) Mark Zahra Peter Snowden 55.0 5.5L
6th 3 MANHATTAN MAID(8) Michelle Payne Darren Weir 54.5 9.0L
7th 5 TWILIGHTING(7) Dwayne Dunn Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra 53.0 10.0L
8th 9 BAREBACK(6) Brenton Avdulla Pat Carey 53.0 13.7L
9th 8 BEAUTIFUL BOUDICA(5) Stephen Baster Shane Nichols 53.0 17.0L

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