Racing under lights resumes with a bang on Friday night, with the running of the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Held over the flying 1000m, the $1m weight for age scamper traditionally attracts a quality field of sprinters and the winners list certainly backs that up.
Manikato (1982), Schillachi (1992), Falvelon (2000), Miss Andretti (2007) and Apache Cat (2009) are just a few names that jump off the page, as well as Champion unbeaten mare, Black Caviar, who won the race two years in a row in 2010 and 2011, only to be outdone by Qld warhorse, Buffering, who took home the trophy in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Team Snowden trained galloper, Wild Ruler, held off the late charge of The Inferno to claim victory in last year’s Moir with Daniel Moor on board.
Looking at the market, Dabble has TJ Smith placegetter, Paulele, a narrow favourite at $4.20 just ahead of last start McEwen Stakes winner, Rothfire, at $4.40. Fellow Queenslander, Zoustyle, is next best at $7.50 ahead of Generation at $8.50.
We know Moonee Valley can be a tricky place to find a winner and as the market suggests, this year’s Moir is anyone’s race. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Moir Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. The Inferno (8) – $21
Jockey – Blake Shinn 58.5kg
Trainer – Cliff Brown
Former Singapore star sprinter who didn’t get the race run to suit first up but still made good late ground. Flashed home to be beaten by a nostril in this race last year and has to be considered a chance of going one better here if he can stay in touch early.
2. Paulele (6) – $4.20F
Jockey – James McDonald 58.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Resumes here after a super trial win in Sydney. Has some strong form lines around the likes of Nature Strip and Mazu, and is a winner here at the Valley. Good gate, good jock, good chance!
Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights is back @TheValley and the action is headlined by the Moir Stakes!@Dan_Cobby has analysed every race and his best bets – including a Moir Stakes selection – are now available!
Market: https://t.co/1YAaRzEu8u pic.twitter.com/TMBDb6mEqA
— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) September 22, 2022
3. Rothfire (5) – $4.40
Jockey – Damian Lane 58.5kg
Trainer – Robert Heathcote
Had a nice run in transit first up in the McEwen and won well. Should get similar conditions here and his first up win keeps his unbeaten 1000m record intact. One of the main winning hopes.
4. Zoustyle (9) – $7.50
Jockey – Damien Oliver 58.5kg
Trainer – Tony Gollan
Jumped a bit tardy first up in the McEwen but still managed to lead and hold on well behind Rothfire. No doubt he will be looking to lead again and will be out to go one better. Can win.
5. Malkovich (3) – $26
Jockey – Rachel King 58.5kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Led Eduardo first up over the 1000m at Randwick but was no match late. Should be suited by a drier track here and one would think he will handle the tight Valley circuit. Gets a few ticks for a horse at big odds.
6. Generation (2) – $8.50
Jockey – Mark Zahra 58.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Narrowly defeated first up at Caulfield and failed to win the race on protest in the stewards room. Will be fitter for that run and should get a nice trail from the inside gate. In form jock, Mark Zahra, sticks with him and he looks hard to beat.
7. Extremely Lucky (12) – $15
Jockey – Ben Melham 58.5kg
Trainer – Will Clarken
Will Clarken is adamant that he has never had a horse as gifted, or as bizarre, as Extremely Lucky enter his stable!
Can the talented gelding claim a maiden Group 1 victory in the Moir Stakes @TheValley this Friday night? pic.twitter.com/UKi428AhiF
— Ladbrokes.com.au (@ladbrokescomau) September 18, 2022
Adelaide visitor who went past them like they were nailed to the fence in the Lightning Stakes, before another good effort last start here at the Valley. Gets a few key gear changes and will be ridden cold from the outside barrier. Watch for him late.
8. September Run (7) – $15
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
G1 William Reid winner here in the Autumn who resumes after two barrier trials in Sydney. The tempo of the race looks suitable and she should be doing her best work late.
9. Bella Nipotina (11) – $14
Jockey – Craig Williams 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Good win in Listed grade this track/distance first up. Has always raced in the top grade and rarely runs a bad race. Will need a touch of luck from the wide draw but she shouldn’t be far away from the action.
10. Isotope (4) – $18
Jockey – Jye McNeil 56.5kg
Trainer – Tony Gollan
Talented Qld mare who pulled up with the thumps first up at Caulfield. Has a good second up record and is effective at 1000m. If she turns up and runs up to her best, she’s definitely in with a winning chance.
11. Mileva (10) – $51
Jockey – Daniel Moor 56.5kg
Trainer – Phillip Stokes
Led and was only collared late last start behind Bella Nipotina. She’s a genuine 1000m mare but this is her biggest test to date and the wide gate makes things complicated.
Who are you backing in this year’s edition of the G1 Moir Stakes? ✍ pic.twitter.com/tvFZX8oKxM
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 21, 2022
12. Coolangatta (1) – $10
Jockey – Jamie Kah 50kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Star 2YO who trialled like a rocket before a somewhat disappointing run first up as a 3YO in the McEwen. Should strip fitter here and draws the inside with no weight. May be worth another chance before we put the red line through her.
Final Word
As expected in a G1 1000m race, the sparks look set to fly from the second the gates open here. Zoustyle and Malkovich have an abundance of early toe and look the likely leaders, whilst Generation and Coolangatta off the inside draws will most likely take a trail.
Going with the Maher/Eustace runner, Generation, on top. His first up run at Caulfield was solid and he should be fitter for this second up. He races well here at the Valley and should be strong late over the 1000m with in-form hoop, Mark Zahra, on board.
Hard to knock Paulele who brings very strong form into this first up. He chased home Nature Strip and Eduardo in the TJ Smith last prep and was outbobbed by Mazu in the G1 Doomben 10,000. Looks to get a nice trail from the good draw and will be surging late.
September Run looks the best of the roughies for mine. Her latest trial at Randwick suggests she is in for a good prep and she’s already a G1 winner here at the Valley.
Former star 2YO, Coolangatta, can improve second up and gets in light with only 50kg on her back, and last start McEwen winner, Rothfire, and runner up, Zoustyle, can’t be left out of calculations.
Moir Stakes Tip
6. Generation – Each-way ($8.50/$2.80)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Moir Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
