Julius Sandhu initially wasn’t sold on starting Moya Lass in Wednesday’s $50,000 Ladbroke It! Handicap but a couple of factors won him over.
A small field of seven competing on one of Victoria’s most spacious racetracks over 1300 metres is the perfect launching pad for the two-year-old’s career.
“It’s a great race to start her off in,” he said. “It’s going to be a good experience because it’s not 15 horses and potentially being crowded up at her first run in a race.
“It’s a lovely opportunity on a big track like that to get her first race experience.”
The daughter of Coolmore stallion Caravaggio is the 12th named foal from the Danehill mare Blowin In The Wind, whose standout performer to date has been dual Listed winner Theanswermyfriend (High Chaparral).
She is also the dam of promising Grahame Begg-trained gelding British Columbia, a son of Vancouver who has won two of seven starts.
Moya Lass was among a handful of weanlings Sandhu’s main backer Paul Lofitis bought in 2020 and the Cranbourne trainer quickly developed an attachment to the $30,000 Inglis purchase.
“Of all the horses that Mr Lofitis bought, she was the one that I fell in love with instantly,” Sandhu said.
Moya Lass tuned up for her debut with a soft 800m Cranbourne jumpout under Jamie Mott last Monday, which Sandhu was happy with.
“She missed the kick by three lengths because she stuck her head into the other barrier just as they were about to jump and then Jamie just gave her a nice, comfortable ride and let her finish off under her own steam,” he said.
“She ran fourth, did it quite comfortably, pulled up from it great and galloped super on Saturday.”
With Mott suspended, Sandhu has called onDamien Oliver to partner Moya Lass, who will start from barrier four.
Moya Lass contests Wednesday’s first race with his other runner – Do You Reckon – to go around in the $50,000 Tile Importer Handicap (1300m) that rounds out the eight-race card.
He has drawn barrier eight but will come into five if none of the bottom four emergencies gain a start with 3kg claimer Kiran Quilty to ride.
“With the claim he gets in with 58.5kg and that’s a lovely barrier for him,” Sandhu said.
“He’ll jump and put himself there and he’s had two runs under his belt now. With a little bit of luck, unless something nasty happens in the race, I think he’ll be right there at the business end.”