A lackluster performance earlier this week from a stablemate will see Ole Dancer take on the filly version of a Stakes race at Flemington.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Sheza Alibi was due to kick off her autumn campaign in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, with Ole Dancer taking on the older mares in the Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m).
But Sheza Alibi did not please the stable in her final piece of work on Tuesday and the decision was made to switch races with Ole Dancer.
Moody said the Desirable Stakes was the softer option of the two races, with Ole Dancer competing against fillies her own age.
“She’s not excited or screwed because we’re aware that she won’t have a nerve-wracking match a fortnight before the Surround, a Group 1, and ultimately we want to do another two or three runs after that,” Moody said.
“Lessons will get her a long way, unless one of the other fillies really stands out, so I think it would be hard to see her beaten.”
The Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 28 was destined for Ole Dancer from the moment she was sent for a break after winning the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) last spring.
Ole Dancer is a three-time winner from five starts, with Moody blaming poor barriers for her defeats.
He said that with a bit of luck she could be undefeated and follow the same path as her famous relationship Black Caviar, after whom Saturday’s feature race, the Black Caviar Lightning, is named.
Black Caviar and Ole Dancer’s father Ole Kirk are related, with Ole Kirk coming from a sister of Black Caviar.
“The times she got beat she had bad barriers, so we rode her stone cold and she ran home great,” Moody said of Ole Dancer.
“We probably have to ride her seven out of seven cold on Saturday, and Danny O’Brien’s filly (Sass Appeal) is probably leading and controlling the pace and is probably the one we have to beat.
“It won’t be an easy task but it will be a nice gallop for her. The track looks huge and the rain we had on Wednesday is the best thing to happen to any track in Victoria.
“If all goes well, this will lead us to the Surround in a few weeks.”
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