Peter Moody can strengthen Victoria Derby and Oaks hand with Gates and Autumn Angel at Caulfield
A pair of Peter Moody runners can enhance their Derby and Oaks credentials against short-priced favourites at Caulfield on Saturday.
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Peter Moody has Gates and Autumn Angel poised to enhance their Victoria Derby and Oaks credentials on Saturday’s Caulfield Cup undercard.
Gates has the unenviable task of tackling the $1.45 favourite Riff Rocket, a dominant last start Flemington winner, in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).
“Looking forward to it, a competitive run second-up over 2000m,” Moody said.
“I think he improves going into the Derby, respectful of (Chris) Waller’s (Riff Rocket) won very well the other day but that will give me a feel of where we sit with (Gates).”
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Autumn Angel also has a short-priced favourite to contend with, Tropical Squall, a $1.90 hot pot in the Group 2 Ethereal Stakes (2000m).
Autumn Angel added valuable black-type to her record, last-start third in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) behind subsequent Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff.
“She’s going really well, I reckon she’ll cement herself as an Oaks filly on Saturday,” Moody said.
“She was taking ground off Griff last start, not a bad form line back to fillies and fact she finished last 200m off gives you a good feel she gets the mile.
“Quite often you don’t have to be a stayer at this time of year if you’ve got a little bit of quality and I think she’s got that.”
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Moody has seven Derbies and two Oaks in five states, including the 2001 Victoria Derby with Amalfi.
His Caulfield Cup runner on Saturday, outsider Fame, ran second in the Queensland Derby in May and then finished 5½ lengths behind Without A Fight in the Q22.
“He continues to please and work well at home and the owners were keen to roll the dice, 2400m is right in his wheelhouse,” Moody said of the $126 shot.
“He’s sound, fit and well, that will put him in front of half of them, is he good enough to finish in front of the other half? Well, that’s very arguable.”
Moody won the 2021 Caulfield Cup with Incentivise.
Originally published as Peter Moody can strengthen Victoria Derby and Oaks hand with Gates and Autumn Angel at Caulfield
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