Moir Stakes

Distance 1,000m Grade Group 1 Track  Moonee Valley Prizemoney $1,000,000 2018 winner Viddora ($12.00) The Moir Stakes is The Valley's feature sprint for the Spring cranival. The Group One is now worth a cool $1 million in prizemoney and has been won by some of the greats including Buffering (2012, 2014, 2015), Black Caviar (2010, 2011), Schilachi (1992) and Manikato (1982).  Nominations for this year's Moir Stakes are once again down on quality, due to most of the country's high-class sprinters being in Sydney on route to the the Everest. Leading the nominations for this year's edition is the Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained Sunlight. The daughter of Zoustar took all before her last campaign, proving too strong for her rivals in the Group One Newmarket Handicap and William Reid Stakes.  The early favourite is the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip, the winner of the Group One Galaxy Stakes in the Autumn who ran a disappointing 8th in this race last year.   All-in market Moir Stakes Best Bet: Trekking $8.00 - The Godolphin owned gelding is proven first-up and carries residual fitness off the back of a successful Brisbane Winter Carnival.  His track work in the lead-up to this run has been ultra-impressive and although the 1000m is short of his best distance, there is likely to be enough early speed engaged to bring the back-markers into the race.   Best Value: Faatinhah $17.00 - This gelding won well first-up and only needs to hold that form to be competitive at the each-way odds.  The word from the stable is that he's doing as well as ever and as a proven winner at the track and distance, he's a knockout hope.   Final Field Bet: Exhilarates $17.00 - There are no guarantees Godolphin will opt for this race on Friday night, but if they do it'll be for good reason. This three-year-old filly is an exciting type, who has taken all before her this prep and can match it with the best sprinters in the country at the weight-for-age.  Her win in the Listed Atlantic Jewel over the 1200m at The Valley suggests she'll handle the track and there is no doubt she'd be competitive with the weight relief.    Nominations for the 2019 Moir Stakes are below:  Horse Trainer Weight Odds NATURE STRIP Chris Waller 58.5kg $ 2.50 SUNLIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy 56.5kg $ 4.80 TREKKING James Cummings 58.5kg $ 8.00 THE BOSTONIAN (NZ) Tony Pike 58.5kg $ 11.00 EDUARDO Sarah Zschoke 58.5kg $ 11.00 BOOKER Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra 56.5kg $ 15.00 BONS AWAY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg $ 15.00 ASSERTIVE APPROACH Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 58.5kg $ 15.00 BALL OF MUSCLE Joseph Pride 58.5kg $ 17.00 EXHILARATES James Cummings 50kg $ 17.00 FAATINAH David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 58.5kg $ 17.00 VIRIDINE James Cummings 58.5kg $ 17.00 MISS LEONIDAS Shaun Dwyer 56.5kg $ 31.00 WINTER BRIDE Toby & Trent Edmonds 56.5kg $ 35.00 MERYL Lee Curtis 56.5kg $ 35.00 TACTICAL ADVANTAGE Kris Lees 58.5kg $ 35.00 ASHLOR Dan McCarthy 58.5kg $ 51.00 CATCH ME Peter & Paul Snowden 50kg $ 101.00

Distance 1000m Grade Group 1 Track Rating Good 4 Prizemoney $500,000 Class Weight For Age  (3yo and Up) 2017 winner She Will Reign ($2.40) This year's edition of the Group 1 Moir Stakes has plenty of depth, led by the entry of two key hopes in the Everest (Brave Smash and Nature Strip). These runners will create significant interest when post race assessments are made on their strength over the final 50m. High profile gelding Nature Strip has polarised most racing pundits, who claim that he will struggle to run the Everest distance of 1200m right out. As the current red hot favourite, he will be looking to prove them all wrong by charging right through the line late.     Moonee Valley Race Track Traits Moonee Valley is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail in the true position the entire circuit and fine conditions predicted for Friday's night meeting.  With the rail in the true we can expect a fair racing surface, with both on and off speed runners having their chance if good enough. However, an on-pace and up-the-rail bias can persist at The Valley on occassion. As always, a close watch is advised early to any potential rail/off the rail advantage.    Racing Market Movers Race favourite Nature Strip remains solid at $2.20 in early betting, whilst Brave Smash has eased out to $11 from $9.50 openers. There are no other moves of note.    Key Runners #1 Brave Smash $9.50 > $11 Has secured the Chris Waller Racing slot for The Everest and will be out to tune-up for the grand final here with a sound performance. Expect him to get well back in the field from gate 10, before storming home down the outside.  However, it's unlikely they will be keen on knocking him around with a gut buster with the main event so close. This has been the concern with all Everest runners in their lead-up events, and while the prestigious Group 1 status and prizemoney of this race are both a worthy carrot, expect the horse to be preserved for the end target. Still, the speed map looks ideal where they are likely to go warp speed out in front, giving the run-on profiles every hope. Leading chance.     #2 Voodoo Lad $12 The stable have been pushing for an Everest slot for this fellow, which has not been forthcoming at this point. He is another that exhibits a strong run-on profile and can capitalise on the predicted fast tempo. Rider Brad Rawiller will be forced well back from gate 12 and needs to find the back of a good one, for a nice tow around the home turn and into the short Moonee Valley straight. He looks right up to this grade and with luck in running, could surprise a few here. Looks great value at the current $12 and is a genuine winning chance.    #3 Ball Of Muscle $11 Unbeaten this preparation and deserves a chance to capture Group 1 glory in this, after saluting at Group 2 level in The Shorts at Randwick last start. He has now had five attempts at Group 1 level for no winning result (5:0-1-0), however he is in rare form this time in and doubt he has ever been going better. Slight concern this race simply features too many speed horses and whilst they are still likely to push forward, there is a good chance he will have company on top of the speed where it will be no picnic. Looks to be far too much pressure this time out. No.   #6 Nature Strip $2.20 Loves to lead and dictate, however considering the draw and ton of speed elsewhere, they may attempt to find cover behind the leading pair here. The concern is that he will be weak late over the Everest distance of 1200m, and this lead-up race looks the perfect opportunity to test if he is as dynamic when covered up in the run. Expect him to be in the moving line three-wide from a tricky draw, and from there pressuring the leaders early. Considering an ugly speed map, he does look well under the odds at the current $2.25 and it would not surprise to see a significant market drift late. Should be avoided at all costs on this occasion. No.    #7 Viddora $9.50 Has plenty of quality as a Group 1 winner and ran a close second to She Will Reign in this race last year. She arrives here first-up and does race well after a break (8:2-4-1), although strikes a race where the field is stacked with rock hard fit runners. Market drift is expected and she'll likely find a few of these far too sharp on this occasion. No.   #8 Houtzen $6.50 Was ultra impressive at this track and distance last start, when challenging the smart Nature Strip late to just miss. She looks a genuine chance here with luxury speed map favours, where she is likely to find the coverted postion off the leader's back. From this stalking position, she can dart through late and win. Top hope.   Of The Others None Preferred.    Best Racing Tips 1st  Voodoo Lad 2nd  Houtzen 3rd  Brave Smash 4th  Nature Strip Follow the tips of Moonee Valley track experts in our Moonee Valley tips market, where the best punters are shown in order of their profitability.