3 minute read
Leading trainer Peter Moody is just a few wins away from recording a rare milestone and he can finish the day at Flemington today with a win from Volando.
Moody looks almost certain to rack up 100 city winners for the season in Melbourne, a top achievement given only David Hayes and Lee Freedman have been able to achieve the feat.
Moody has a strong book across the card at Flemington today and he can get punters out to a winning end of the day with Volando in the Wrap Around Handicap (race 8).
The filly had little luck last start but looks very well placed today in this fillies and mares handicap over 1400m.
Volando, a daughter of Viscount, was a 1400m winner at Caulfield four starts back where she ran on hard to score a long neck win.
She then stepped up to a mile there in open three-year-old class and after drifting back and racing at the tail throughout again got home well, this time running on into fourth.
She backed up over a mile at Betfair Park Lakeside a week later in the same grade.
Settling closer in the run this time, she turned second and battled away well but couldn't match Midnight Martini, who won again at her next start.
A fortnight later, over 1500m at Moonee Valley, she drew the outside gate so was taken back to the tail and turned second last before hitting the line powerfully, scoring by a length.
Moody then gave her a chance in the rich Rivette Series Final at Flemington, a race for fillies over a mile.
On her honest recent form she carried 59kg and drew barrier 12, settling a clear last early and turning with plenty to do facing a wall of horses on the inside.
She was held up for a run but angled between runners and despite finding some trouble really hit the line hard late to finish seventh, beaten three lengths, behind Maraaseem.
It was a good effort under the circumstances where little went right and today she drops 5kg as she meets the mare and has drawn the inside gate.
There's no doubt she'll drift back over the shorter journey from there but Flemington suits and she had a good turn of foot with clear running.
With just 54kg, and with top rider Glen Boss aboard back from an overseas working holiday, she should be hard to hold out over the final stages.
Volando is an each-way chance in markets in an open race and Moody also has Elumino in the race as well.
While the former looks very wlel placed to turn around her form it would be no surprise to see Elumino bounce back as she's far better than last start.
The mare, who placed at her first three runs from a spell, was beaten 12 lengths last time in the All Victorian Sprint Series final up the straight here behind Perturbo.
The claim for Daniel Stackhouse offsets the big weight and she comes in a couple after scratching.
She is a stakes class mare so on her best figures she'd be hard to beat here.
In a wide open race there are a host of winning chances.
Charlie's Queen is racing in great form and must be considered on her last start win.
She raced over 1500m at Moonee Valley and stormed home to score so will have no worries at the trip and carries the same weight.
The firmer track suits and she'll be hard to hold out.
Two Hills is drawn for a good run and with Oliver in the saddle should be putting herself in the finish at the right time, while Ariarni, possible having her last start today, certainly has the ability.
She is another fringe stakes level mare and if she runs up to her best will certainly be in the mix.
The former Kiwi Bedlum has won seven races in New Zealand and was only a length away in a Group 1 over a mile a few runs back.
She has a nice weight and good gate given she races on the speed so is worth keeping safe at her Australian debut.