Moet Down can count on a sizeable support crew when the Stephen Marsh-prepared filly makes her seasonal debut at Ruakaka this Saturday.
The well-related daughter of Pierro will run in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) for the enthusiastic Heels & Hooves Syndicate.
Moet Down is the first horse raced by the all-female group of 40-odd owners, who weren’t disappointed when she finished fourth on a wet surface in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) in her only appearance as a juvenile.
“She didn’t really like that track and didn’t get all favours so I thought it was a great first-up run,” Marsh said.
“She has trialled up very well this time in, her work has also been good. She is a very well-bred filly and if she can run top three it will be great.”
A half-sister to the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Madame Pommery, Moet Down was purchased by Marsh for A$200,000 at the Inglis Australia Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Coolmore and is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Cancel.
“She was one of those fillies that was just a bit backward at the time, she wasn’t a big, imposing type,” Marsh said.
“We took the punt that she would grow into herself and develop and she has. If she had been big and robust then she would probably have been half a-million plus.”
The Heels & Hooves Syndicate purchased another Pierro filly at the Easter Sale this year, securing the Tyreel Stud-offered youngster for A$120,000.
“The majority of the syndicate came in again and with a lot of new ones,” Marsh said.
She is out of the Listed Rosemont Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Rockolicious, a Fastnet Rock mare whose second dam is the multiple Group One winner Canny Lass.
“We buy one horse a year for the ladies only syndicate and they are a great team of owners, they enjoy their lunches and a bit of Moet,” Marsh said.
Safely through Saturday, Moet Down is likely to head to Hastings for the Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) with the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton the dream grand final.
Marsh is also pleased with the progress of two other promising three-year-olds with Codigo and Glamour Tycoon trialling well over 950m on the all-weather track at Cambridge on Thursday.
Ardrossan’s son Codigo finished third in an open heat while the latter was a soft winner against maiden company.
“Codigo was caught a bit wide and then they slowed the speed and he kicked on well and got beaten by a nice one (Sacred Satono),” Marsh said.
“He will kick off in the El Roca Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Hastings and then the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m).”
Codigo was unbeaten in two domestic appearances last season, including the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1200m) before he ventured across the Tasman to run third at Flemington, in what has proved to be a particularly strong form race.
The winner Steparty is unbeaten in three appearances while runner-up Dolphin Skin subsequently won the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m).
Glamour Tycoon finished runner-up in both of her two-year-old appearances last term and was spelled after she was second in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Stakes.
“She will run on Saturday week at Te Rapa in a three-year-old maiden over 1200m and she will be hard to handle in that,” Marsh said.
