It’s been confirmed that Perth galloper Mr Moet will trial at home next week ahead of their spring campaign targeting the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups 2013 in Victoria later in the year.
Winner of the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot last November Adam Durrant’s Mosayter gelding travelled interstate for the first time at the star of the year for the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
Having backed up from the Railway with a brave second to Luckygray in the Group 1 Kingstown Town Classic (1800m) before a Group 2 CB Cox Stakes win over 2100m and Perth Cup second in the Group 2 mile and a half classic, they were fancied to bring it to Victoria.
They had three runs in Melbourne during the festival the first of which was their best when third just three quarters of a length off All Too Hard in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m).
Their others were a close second to Foreteller in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) in late February before their most recent effort, sixth to 2013 Cox Plate second favourite Super Cool in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March.
While they didn’t celebrate a success that prep Durrant is hopeful they can this time round with Mr Moet to target the $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 and the ‘race that stops a nation’ – the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6.
But first they’ll kick things off with a Lark Hill trial in Western Australia next Monday before travelling east for a first-up run in the recently upgraded $350,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 7.
“Mr Moet is flying. He’s never been a great worker but he’s gone to a new level,” Durrant told The West Australian.
“He’ll trial next Monday and then again over 1450m before we leave.”
Currently Mr Moet pays $41 and $101 in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup betting markets respectively.
Set to join Mr Moet over in Melbourne is last month’s Strickland Stakes winner Kincaple, the rising Pentire eight-year-old to target the country cups features in Victoria.
“Kincaple’s in great shape as well,” Durrant said.
“He stayed in the stable (after the Strickland) and just did trot and canter work for a week and has had a few gallops since.”
While not the big cups in Melbourne Durrant also has an agenda for his classy filly Summah’s Touch who completed the Perth autumn 3YO’s triple crown last Saturday with her Belmont Classic win over the boys.
Following her earlier wins in the Belmont Guineas and Oaks the Classic won’t be her last run this prep either with Durrant planning to back the Blackfriars three-year-old up in a 2200m handicap this weekend to get her ratings up.
She’ll then likely be aimed at the $110,000 Bunbury Cup (2200m) and the $100,000 Pinjarra Cup (2300m) during the autumn next year.
“She’s a little ripper and she did the job again,” Durrant said of her Classic victory.
“She’ll start in an open staying race next Saturday. She’s Westspeed eligible and has only had three runs.
“We’ll probably give her another one or two and then give her a long spell and look at the Bunbury and Pinjarra cups next year.
“We have the option of taking her to Melbourne with Mr Moet and Kincaple, but the two cups look suitable.”
Whether it’s a midweek maiden in WA or one of the big spring features the best horse racing odds can be found online at bookmaker.com.au, home of the exclusive ‘Pick Your Own Odds’ markets on the metro races.