Godolphin stars have strong support at Moonee Valley

A combination of runners ranging from Derby prospects to fillies seeking all-important black type is set to provide strong support to Godolphin’s G1 Cox Plate runners Hartnell and Hauraki at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 22.

Heading the list is the ever-consistent Federal (John O’Shea/James McDonald) who looks to have conditions to suit in the G2 Crystal Mile.

Federal has strung together four wins and nine placings from his 16 starts and trainer John O’Shea believes he can improve on that record on Saturday.

“He drew very wide last start and ran a great race to only be beaten a half-length,” O’Shea said.

“He worked well on Tuesday morning and I think the step up to a mile on soft ground at Moonee Valley will really suit him.

“He’s in great form and we’re looking forward to him going around.”

Victoria Derby aspirant Retaliation (John O’Shea/James McDonald) faces his most serious test to date in the traditional classic lead-up, the G2 Monee Valley Vase, a race his trainer sees as a useful educational experience for a colt approaching his peak.

“He drops down from a Group 1 in the Champion Stakes at Randwick last start and he ran another good race before that,” O’Shea said.

“I think the form around him is very strong, it’s now about getting him on the right lead and giving him a good hit out in the lead up to the Derby.”

The three-year-old filly Chipanda (John O’Shea/James McDonald) runs in the G2 Fillies Classic with the aim of becoming the first Australian stakes winner for her sire Sepoy.

And her trainer believes she can succeed in that mission.

“I think she’s one of our better chances for the week,” O’Shea said. 

“She was very unlucky in a similar race last start and I wouldn’t be surprised if she won.”

Archives (John O’Shea/James McDonald), who already has the distinction of being the first Stakes winner by his sire Helmet, attempts to add another in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes, a race won in 2015 by his stablemate Holler.

A promising second in a G2 when resuming at Flemington this month, Archives then finished ninth in the G3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield, but O’Shea took confidence from the colt’s work at Moonee Valley this week.

“He got around Moonee Valley well on Tuesday morning when he worked with Holler who was a bit strong for him, as you’d expect,” he said.

Antelucan (John O’Shea/James McDonald), who runs in the G3 Tesio Stakes, is another from whom O’Shea is expecting improvement after four runs this time in, the latest a third behind Euro Angel in a similar G3 race at Caulfield.

“She hung a little bit on Wednesday but if she goes straight she should be right in this,” O’Shea said. 

The Godolphin line-up is completed by Angharad (John O’Shea/James McDonald), who is capable of running a bold race in the Listed Crockett Stakes.

“She was very unlucky at her last start and she’s come on since then,” O’Shea said.

“She’s another one who has worked well this week and I wouldn’t be surprised if she turned her form around here.”