Gates debacle revealed ahead of 2024 Mornington Guineas: ‘He would have led Cox Plate field by 12 lengths’

Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have reset the program of Mornington Guineas contender Gates after everything went ‘pear-shaped’ in a horror first-up run.

Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman have reset the program of Mornington Guineas contender Gates after a last-start debacle at The Valley.

Things went wrong from the start of the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes, which led to Gates seeing plenty of the outside second of the track in the 2040m contest.

“From the wide gate, we elected to go forward and he was five-deep,” Moody said.

“From then on, it went pear-shaped.”

Moody said post-race analysis revealed Gates would have needed to be an iron horse to hold his position throughout the race.

Instead, Gates tired to finish last, more than 50 lengths from the winner Antrim Coast.

“Our maps told us that he would have led the Cox Plate field by 12 lengths,” Moody said.

“He would have done a Pride Of Jenni.”

Moody and Coleman decided to freshen Gates after the tough day out at The Valley, giving him a four-week break into Saturday’s Mornington Guineas.

Gates holds them at bay for @moodyracingpgm 👊@luke_nolenpic.twitter.com/NRt1yew9Tu

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 20, 2023

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Moody said the stable would attempt to prepare Gates for a Queensland campaign, which could include the Group 1 Queensland Derby.

Gates was Group 3-placed over 2000m last spring before finishing seventh to Riff Rocket in the Victoria Derby.

“We were sort of rushing to get towards Adelaide if we could,” Moody said.

“We just came back, did a take two, gave him a freshen up and we’ll just go back to a mile and see if we can work him towards Queensland.”

Gates is a $7.50 chance in TAB’s Mornington Guineas market while the stable’s other runner, lightly-raced filly Tacumwah, has formed from $26 to $14.

“She’s a nice filly, a staying filly that will probably need one (run),” Moody said.

“But she’s a filly we hope might progress towards Queensland too for these three-year-old fillies’ staying races.

“We’ll probably give her two runs and take her up there for that.”

Originally published as Gates debacle revealed ahead of 2024 Mornington Guineas: ‘He would have led Cox Plate field by 12 lengths’