Premier Victorian trainer Peter Moody’s glamour mare Black Caviar may have another quality female on the road to Group 1 glory at the Brisbane Winter Carnival after progressive filly Grenada Road won at Sandown on Wednesday.
Black Caviar could be joined by fellow Moody-trained Grenada Road in Brisbane
While stable star Black Caviar will attempt to win her baker’s dozen in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on May 14 her improving stablemate, well-bred Encosta De Lago three-year-old Grenada Road may have earned a shot at the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 4.
The Peter Moody-trained Grenada Road has had just four career starts, winning her last two starts back-to-back this month over a mile showing her potential as a genuine stayer.
Grenada Road broke her maiden status at her third start winning the Campbell’s Constructions Maiden over the mile at Cranbourne on April 10 by a tidy one and a half lengths after starting in the far outside barrier of the 12-horse field.
She backed up beautifully just 10 days later winning The Cove Hotel Handicap (1600m) at Sandown, again from a double-digit starting gate, on Wednesday.
“We thought she’d be looking for a 2000-metre race today and we were hoping the rain would stretch the race out and that’s the way it panned out,” Moody said.
Apprentice jockey Jake Noonan rode Grenada Road ($10 into $7.50) to a gritty final stride win over early leader Jalsah ($13) in The Cove Hotel Handicap.
“The leaders got tired and she was the strongest on the line,” Moody said.
Raced by Limerick Lane Syndicate, managed by Melbourne Cup-winning thoroughbred owner Gerry Ryan, Grenada Road was purchased for $450,000 at the 2009 Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sales.
“She’s a lovely filly,” Moody said of Grenada Road.
“She could be a Queensland Oaks type filly but whether I’ve got enough horse to get her there in her first racing preparation is questionable.
“We’ll go home and see how she pulls up and plot a course towards there.
“They are only three once.
“But if it’s not to be she’s going to be a lovely staying four-year-old mare.”
A half-sister to Moody’s 2011 Victoria Derby winner Amalfi, the New Zealand-bred Grenada Road has earned $30,088 to date.
“She’s a (half) sister to Amalfi who is close to my heart,” Moody said.
“I’ve trained most of the family actually.
“It’s a strong staying family.”
The 2011 Queensland Oaks has at total of $400,000 in stakes on offer.
