THE powerful Peter Moody stable looks set to have a strong hand in the $25,000 2YO Jack Maher Classic (1200m) after the stable nominated six runners for Sunday’s feature at Wodonga.
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Nominations for the Border’s richest juvenile race were released yesterday with Moody having the highest amount of runners among the 49 entries, up from 35 last year.
Moody nominated debutantes All That I Know, Golden Child, Majestic Lass and Zandarral alongside Benefactor and Shining Star who both have previous race experience.
Several of Moody’s two-year-old’s are also entered for Geelong on Friday, Caulfield on Saturday and Ballarat on Sunday.
The leading Melbourne trainer last won the two-year-old classic in 2010 with Sayahailmary after having previously won with Live In Sin in 2008 and Neprotain in 2004.
Moody nominated five runners last year but failed to have a starter.
For the third year running the Jack Maher Classic has been granted lucrative VOBIS Gold and Super VOBIS status.
Under the scheme, the owner of a qualified horse will earn an extra $9000 if Super VOBIS qualified and an extra $20,000 if VOBIS Gold qualified, on top of the $15,000 prizemoney for winning.
In a further coup for Wodonga and District Turf Club, leading Melbourne trainers Ciaron Maher, Robert Smerdon alongside the in-form training partnership of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig have also nominated runners.
For the first time Godolphin is also among the entries after trainer John O’Shea nominated Demonstrate and Maternal.
Alex Maher, who is the daughter of Wodonga trainer, Peter, and granddaughter of the late Jack, joined the Godolphin stable earlier this year as a stablehand.
The hopes of a local victory will rest with Brian Cox and Sylvia Thompson.
Cox has three entries (Miss Koru, Murrawee and Wisdom Line) while Thompson has one (Tricky Redente).
Thompson scored an upset victory last year when Uncle Tiger ploughed through the heavy going to win at the bolter odds of $41.
Cox is also a recent winner with Sumakaray in 2012.
The victory handed the leading trainer his fifth Classic after previous wins with Cool Azz (2002), Maid In Monaco (1999), Fais D’or (1998) and Jacoby (1995).
Sunday’s meeting will coincide with the club’s annual member’s day.
Members who renew or join before Sunday receive a $10 TAB voucher and two free drinks on the day.
Existing members, who refer a friend to join, will go into the draw to win the ultimate race day experience on Emirates Stakes Day over the Flemington carnival.
