Peter Moody held back from predicting that Ole Dancer would defeat Tempted in this Saturday’s Surround Stakes, yet a specific factor has left the Hall of Fame trainer positive regarding his filly’s chances.

The Ole Kirk filly seeks a second Group 1 triumph in the 1400-metre race at Randwick, following her victory in the 1600m Thousand Guineas last spring.

Tempted suffered defeat as the short-priced favourite during last year’s Golden Rose (1400m) in her sole outing past 1200m, and Moody noted that a favourable barrier draw would position Ole Dancer well after her initial campaign run at 1400m, finishing second in the Desirable Stakes.

“The good thing about my girl is she’s going to be strong at the end of 1400, isn’t she?,” Moody said.

“I just hope we draw a barrier, that’s the main thing.

“The other day we had to go back from seven, you don’t want to have to go back from 10 or 12 and give it (Tempted) a start. I’d rather be three in front of it on the turn than three behind it.”

Ole Dancer has not yet competed in the Sydney direction, but she caught the eye of Moody, who partners with Katherine Coleman in training, during an anti-clockwise gallop at Pakenham on Saturday morning.

Zac Lloyd is set to ride in the Surround Stakes, stepping in for the suspended Luke Nolen.

Nolen was aboard Ole Dancer for the Desirable Stakes, where she closed from last to finish 2-1/2 lengths behind Sass Appeal carrying 59.5kg, a performance Moody described as an excellent base for the upcoming campaign.

“Had she had a run under her belt we would have rolled forward and sat outside her (Sass Appeal) and we would have beat it like we did with Apocalyptic (in the Guineas),” Moody said.

“But because she hadn’t had the run, you’ve got to be mindful of where you’re going and she ran enormous.”

Ole Dancer sits at $8 in the all-in markets for the Surround Stakes, third favourite behind Tempted at $1.50 and Apocalyptic at $4.50.

Explore the Australian betting sites for top racing betting markets ahead of the Surround Stakes.