There are few things more enjoyable than a Friday night of racing at The Valley, and an open edition of the Moir Stakes headlines this week’s program!
It was a shame to see boom three-year-old Anders ruled out of the Moir Stakes with an elevated temperature, but the race hasn’t lost anything of its class and there is a genuine case to be made for nearly all thirteen starters.
Moir Stakes – Winner
No. 11 Hanseatic – Bet Now: $16.00
I’m expecting big second-up improvement from Hanseatic, and the Moir Stakes represents a great opportunity for him to record his first Group 1 win.
The Street Boss colt was almost faultless during his two-year-old season, winning three races and finishing a close-up second in the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes most notably.
He’d clearly had enough by the time that he went around in the Golden Slipper, and he did all of his best work late when he resumed for fourth in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at this track and distance.
He gets in well at the weights, he’s drawn well enough and he needs only even luck to be in the finish once again.
Moir Stakes – 2nd
No. 9 Fabergino – Bet Now: $4.60
Perth raider Fabergino simply does not know how to run a bad race and she is up to winning the Moir Stakes.
The six-year-old daughter of Maschino has missed a placing just once in her twelve career starts so far, winning on nine occasions including each of her last four.
Trainer Tiarnna Robertson has typically liked to keep her fresh, and her first-up record currently reads seven wins from as many starts.
She’s had one previous run in Melbourne, an easy win in the Listed Boy Hoysted Stakes in February and if she handles racing at The Valley, she could very well be the Moir Stakes winner.
Moir Stakes – 3rd
No. 7 Pippie – Bet Now: $8.00
Pippie has recorded three wins from as many first-up efforts previously, and she can fight out the finish of the Moir Stakes.
The Written Tycoon mare has been a great horse throughout her entire career and has so far recorded five wins and two seconds placings from eleven starts, but it is fair to say that she went to another level last preparation.
Her effort to win the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate when resuming in February was easily the best of her career, but she continued to return fine efforts in good races, including a close-up fourth in the Group 1 William Reid here.
She can take a positive position in transit from barrier 5 and is certainly up to winning.
Moir Stakes – 4th
No. 10 Brooklyn Hustle – Bet Now: $18.00
Brooklyn Hustle is another mare than kept her best work for the final 100m of the McEwen Stakes, and I think that she can run a bold third-up race in the Moir.
The Starspangledbanner mare has so far contested three races at The Valley for two wins and a third placing, and particularly her first-up effort this time suggested that she has returned to the races in excellent order this time.
She might need a little luck in running after drawing barrier 9, but if the run opens up, I’m confident that she’ll make the most of it.
Moir Stakes Suggested Bets
- 2 Units E/W #11 Hanseatic
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections above