In-form Peter Moody continues magic run with San Nicasio franking Sandown double

PETER Moody continued his good weekend when the promising San Nicasio won the Chandler MacLeod Handicap.

Peter Moody might have been missing from Moonee Valley on Saturday but that didn’t stop the stable from finding its way to the winner’s enclosure. Picture: Colleen Petch

PETER Moody, absent from Moonee Valley amid reports of gout or a day at the MCG (or both), continued his good weekend when the promising San Nicasio won the Chandler MacLeod Handicap.

Moody celebrated a double at Sandown on Friday with Herstory and Juantorena.

The success of San Nicasio took the four-time premiership trainer to 29 metropolitan winners for the season to keep him in touch with David Hayes/Tom Dabernig (36) and Darren Weir (35).

Stable representative Stephanie Little declared the son of Hard Spun was a slow-maturing gelding but that Moody had a high opinion of his ability.

“Peter’s opinion is that he is still a couple of preparations from his peak, so he’s likely to go through his grades this preparation,” she said.

Jockey Vlad Duric said the three-year-old was still learning. “He has good gears and looks to have a nice future. He was stargazing when he hit the front and there is improvement in him as he learns the ropes,” he said.

Duric sat behind the free-wheeling Shaf ($5.50) on the $3.40 favourite, came off the fence on the corner and scooted to a commanding win.

Many of the owners have recently just sold Group 1 winner Dissident to stud and they can look forward to more success with San Nicasio, who now has won twice from three starts. With the Super VOBIS money included, he took his prizemoney past $100,000.

Albert Road ($5.50) came from the tail of the field to finish second, ahead of Lock And Load ($10).

Nicholas Hall and Every Faith turn into the home straight before winning third race at Moonee Valley. Picture: Getty Images

Smerdon rewarded for keeping the Faith

ROBERT Smerdon is an astute trainer who does not believe in chasing dreams when winning races is an option.

He ran smart mare Every Faith in Group races, including the South Australian and Queensland Oaks as a three-year-old, but picking up minor prizemoney was doing little for the coffers of the owners.

So he decided to return to a suitable class for the daughter of Not A Single Doubt and was rewarded on Saturday with victory in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap (1600m).

“We won a race in Adelaide and then ran in all the major races. But it was time to get back to winning some races and into form and with some confidence,” he said.

Smerdon said he believed the four-year-old’s best distance was 2000m. He is likely to take her to Adelaide for the autumn carnival but has no major races in mind.

Every Faith ($5) certainly looks capable of better wins. She defeated Coronation Shallan ($4.60) by 2½ lengths, with Bec Said No Credit ($21) running a vastly improved race to be a long-head away third.

Winning jockey Nick Hall said the mare can capitalise on her winning form.

Mertens hurt in Stony Creek tumble

APPRENTICE Beau Mertens has a suspected fractured ankle after a fall at Stony Creek.

He was taken to Epworth Hospital for a full assessment on Saturday night, according to Victorian Jockeys Association chief executive Des O’Keeffe.

“Apart from the ankle he seems OK,” O’Keeffe said.

Mertens, son of veteran hoop Peter, fell from Assertive Miss in the fourth race.