Canadian champion and Eclipse Award champion of 2024, MOIRA, returned to the races on August 16 at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne. The Ghostzapper mare, back from time off following her first Australian run in April when 14th in the Doncaster Mile, raced in the Group 2 P.D. Lawrence Stakes at seven furlongs along with stablemate Anisette. Both gals are trained by Chris Waller, who also trains Full Count Felicia, winner of the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine last year.
Ridden by Damian Lane, Moira (8) was last early in the dash under a relaxed hold and the pace up front was not overly quick. She had a lot of room to rally up the inside turning for home and she did just that, closing the gap to finish fourth, beaten just 2 3/4 lengths to the eight-year-old gelding Private Eye, who has earned over $11 million.
Moira, who is now owned by Yulong Investments, was racing in Melbourne for her return as the weather was quite rainy in Sydney.
“It has been very wet in Sydney and so that is the reason for going to Melbourne, it is much drier down there,” said Charlie Duckworth, assistant to Waller.
“She should be the one to watch out of the race and then up to a mile next start, we will see a better and more competitive performance.
“She has come back very well and she should have four or five runs this spring.”
Moira is nominated to the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. She won the 2022 Queen’s Plate and the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare turf and then was sold for $4.3 million by X-Men Racing, SF Bloodstock and Madaket Stable to Yulong.
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