Peter Moody shied away from declaring Ole Dancer a certain conqueror of Tempted for Saturday’s Surround Stakes, though a certain feature fuels his optimism for the filly.
This Ole Kirk offspring targets back-to-back Group 1 wins in Randwick’s 1400m showdown, having secured the 1600m Thousand Guineas last spring.
Her rival Tempted faltered when sent off favourite in last season’s Golden Rose (1400m), her one venture past 1200m, as Moody stressed the value of a decent draw for Ole Dancer after resuming with a second in the 1400m Desirable Stakes.
“The good thing about my girl is she’s going to be strong at the end of 1400, isn’t she?,” Moody said.
“I just hope we draw a barrier, that’s the main thing.
“The other day we had to go back from seven, you don’t want to have to go back from 10 or 12 and give it (Tempted) a start. I’d rather be three in front of it on the turn than three behind it.”
Unacquainted with Sydney gallops, Ole Dancer nonetheless delighted Moody—who trains with Katherine Coleman—via a trackwork session in the clockwise manner at Pakenham Saturday.
Luke Nolen’s suspension hands the Surround Stakes jockey duties to Zac Lloyd.
Nolen partnered Ole Dancer when she flew home from the tail to be beaten 2-1/2 lengths by Sass Appeal under 59.5kg in the Desirable Stakes, forming what Moody calls a solid foundation ahead.
“Had she had a run under her belt we would have rolled forward and sat outside her (Sass Appeal) and we would have beat it like we did with Apocalyptic (in the Guineas),” Moody said.
“But because she hadn’t had the run, you’ve got to be mindful of where you’re going and she ran enormous.”
The filly occupies the $8 spot as third elect in all-in Surround Stakes prices, behind Tempted ($1.50) and Apocalyptic ($4.50).
Punters can check racing betting markets at leading sites for Surround Stakes value.