Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Peter Moody is confident of adding another big race to his list of achievements at the highest level when brilliant filly Autumn Angel tackles Saturday’s (1 June) G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, was hoping to draw barrier three to five to get what he described as a nice, soft barrier in the AU$1 million (approx. HK$5.13 million) race.
But the filly, aiming to be the first of her sex to win the race in 14 years, drew barrier one, which at times can be disadvantageous.
Autumn Angel went down by one and a quarter lengths to the talented Tannhauser in the G3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on 18 May and the pair will again clash in Saturday’s 18-horse field.
Moody is happy to have Autumn Angel back at 2400m, the same distance as the G1 ATC Oaks which she won before dropping back in distance to the Rough Habit Plate where she got well back in the field before charging home.
“Back to the 2400m of the ATC Oaks to the 2000m of the Rough Habit against the boys, I thought it was a good effort,” Moody said.
“She was probably always going to be unsuited with a race with not a lot of genuine tempo, but then they ended up running it along pretty strong. It really points positively to getting back to Eagle Farm on a slightly bigger track, out to 2400m.”
Chris Waller-trained Tannhauser, who started second favourite to Autumn Angel in the Rough Habit Plate, again looms as the biggest threat to the opposition.
Warmonger comes into contention after three solid performances, highlighted by his second in the G1 South Australian Derby (2500m) where he began awkwardly and got back early in the race before making up late ground to miss by one and a quarter lengths. He hasn’t been done any favours after drawing the extreme outside barrier.
New Zealander gallopers First Innings and Moonlight Magic, trained by Andrew Forsman who also has stables in Australia, create plenty of interest based on each of their most recent race performances.
First Innings had his Derby odds slashed massively after his last-to-first victory at his Australian debut at Ipswich when he won by about two and a quarter lengths over 2180m.
Stablemate Moonlight Magic will make her Australian debut in the Queensland Derby and comes into the race after winning the G3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m) in New Zealand. First Innings finished third, beaten three lengths in the same race but didn’t get the same favours in the run as his stablemate.
Forsman warned that Moonlight Magic could be a surprise packet.
“She is unknown here in Australia but she has raced in good company in New Zealand,” Forsman said. “Her pattern of racing makes her a bit frustrating. She goes right back and has been unlucky at times in good races.”
Forsman said he didn’t believe there was much separating the pair.
Trainer Symon Wilde paid a late nomination for Navy King after the gelding’s 2000m success at Flemington, while Sonofdec has gained some support after consecutive wins at 1500m and 1700m and is ready for more ground.
