The Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) could be on the spring agenda for the Peter Moody-trained mare In Good Health following her blowout win in the 2020 Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on Memsie Stakes Day.
Peter Moody and Luke Nolen combined to win the 2020 Heatherlie Stakes in an upset with potential Caulfield Cup-bound mare In Good Health. Photo: Taron Clarke.
The Listed $140,000 Neds Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) saw an upset result with Moody and jockey Luke Nolen of Black Caviar fame returning to their successful partnership to take out the Spring Cups lead-up in an upset.
“Very special,” Moody told the media post-win.
“The Ramsey family have been one of my biggest supporters.
“Very gratifying.”
Congrats mare In Good Health went out a $61 roughie in betting up against plenty of proven Group performed stayers, but was too good for her rivals fresh in a gutsy on-pace performance.
The classy chestnut was backing-up from a win at Sandown Hillside on August 17 in easier company over 1500m and relished the challenge and step-up in distance.
“We thought she’d improved off the midweek the other day, but this is a big step,” Moody said.
In Good Health had to dig in deep against some in-form rivals for her eye-catching win over the beaten favourite Sircconi who had every chance off a perfect run third off the pace behind the leader Think We’re Due throughout.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained four-year-old Game Keeper, coming up from a third in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap over 1200m at Flemington to the 1700m, was also brave finishing off the trifecta up the middle for another minor placing.
As for the winner, connections could now have their sights set on a possible run in the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and maybe even the Group 1 $7.75 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
“She’s progressive. She probably wants a mile and a quarter maybe a little further now,” Moody said.
“There were plenty of Cups aspirants behind her, so you never know.
“She’s nominated.”
All-in 2020 Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au – available in full here – have firmed on In Good Health from $301 to $81.
The mare remains a triple-figure roughie ($301) in futures betting on the ‘race that stops a nation’.
2020 Heatherlie Stakes Results
| Colour | Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 17e | IN GOOD HEALTH | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 15 | 56kg | $61 | ||
 |
2 | 8 | SIRCCONI | Nick Ryan | Daniel Stackhouse | 0.1L | 6 | 58kg | $3F | |
 |
3 | 14 | GAME KEEPER | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Luke Currie | 0.5L | 1 | 56kg | $5.50 | |
 |
4 | 12 | THINK WE’RE DUE | Andrew Noblet | William Pike | 1.5L | 4 | 56kg | $14 | |
 |
5 | 4 | DR DRILL (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Craig Williams | 1.6L | 13 | 59.5kg | $9 | |
 |
6 | 9 | ARISTIA | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Jye McNeil | 2.1L | 5 | 57.5kg | $18 | |
 |
7 | 2 | MIRAGE DANCER (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ben Melham | 2.3L | 2 | 62kg | $18 | |
 |
8 | 11 | PLEIN CIEL (GER) | Danny O’Brien | Damien Oliver | 3.05L | 9 | 57kg | $5 | |
 |
9 | 5 | HAKY (IRE) | Archie Alexander | Declan Bates | 3.25L | 7 | 59.5kg | $101 | |
 |
10 | 18e | MINOLA | Paul Preusker | Dean Yendall | 4.25L | 11 | 56kg | $61 | |
|
11 | 10 | MANTASTIC (IRE) | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton | 4.35L | 14 | 57.5kg | $51 | |
|
12 | 7 | GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) | Archie Alexander | Damian Lane | 4.45L | 10 | 58kg | $151 | |
 |
13 | 6 | STEEL PRINCE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 6.95L | 16 | 59.5kg | $31 | |
 |
14 | 15 | RED ALTO | Brent Stanley | Craig Newitt | 7.15L | 8 | 56kg | $201 | |
 |
15 | 1 | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Jamie Mott | 7.35L | 3 | 62kg | $101 | |
 |
16 | 3 | CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Michael Rodd | 15.35L | 12 | 61.5kg | $41 | |
 |
13 | EXASPERATE | Matthew Brown | Brian Higgins | 0 | |||||
 |
16 | SHANDY | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Jamie Kah | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
