Canada’s Horse of the Year and fan favourite MOIRA has arrived in Australia following some training time in England with James Ferguson. Moira, along with her stablemate FULL COUNT FELICIA, will be part of trainer Chris Waller’s large contingent of horses, of which many are top-class racemares. Yulong purchased Moira for $4.3 million from The November Sale from X-Men racing, Madaket Stable and SF Bloodstock two days after her win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Both Moira and Full Count Felicia, a $1,000,000 purchase from The November Sale by Willingham Stud, are nominated for several major stakes races during the fall season in Australia.
This Saturday, March 22, the pair are on the nomination list for the Ranvet Stakes and George Ryder Stakes, both Group 1s, on Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Gardens.
For both gals, it would be the first time racing clockwise around a turf course.
However, Yulong and Waller have their superstars VIA SISTINA and FAN GIRL also tabbed for those races.
From Justhorseracing.com:
Via Sistina and Fangirl will head separate ways for the first time, with Cox Plate heroine Via Sistina to run in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Fangirl to contest the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Each will be lining up for their third run of the campaign, with Via Sistina coming off a win over Fangirl in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), having finished third behind that six-year-old the start prior in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
“They had a gallop morning (on Saturday) just to stretch their legs, their regular riders were aboard and said they’d come through their last starts really well and gone forward,” Waller said.
“They will separate for the first time this preparation, which is good, as well as taking on other horses.
“The 2000 metres suits Via a little bit better and I think the 1500 metres suits Fangirl better.”
Via Sistina is likely to be a long-odds-on favourite for the Ranvet Stakes, particularly if Dubai Honour, who is among the 14 entries but not a confirmed starter, does not take his place.
While Moira and Full Count Felicia are nominated for both races, they would be about 8-to-1 each if they competed.
Moira, Full Count Felicia and another top North American purchase, Anisette, are expected among the nominations for the A$4 million G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 5, as well as two features on April 12: the A$5 million G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the A$1 million G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), restricted to fillies and mares.
