Trainer John Moloney would like to add some more ‘Black Type’ to the CV of Scorched Earth before the end of her three-year-old campaign.
Scorched Earth officially turns four on Monday and Moloney has his sights on the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville on Saturday, a race restricted to two and three-year-olds at set-weights.
A filly, Scorched Earth will carry 57kg, getting 2kg from the colts and geldings while she will give 3kg to the two-year-old males and 5kg to the fillies.
Scorched Earth is the second highest-rated galloper entered for Saturday’s race and Moloney said under the conditions it looked a nice race to start her off.
“With her rating (89) and being a three-year-old filly, after Saturday she’s not, she doesn’t look too badly placed in that regard,” Moloney said.
“She would be giving away weight if it was a handicap, but it will only be proven if she is to win.
“She’s only had the one jump-out leading into it. She’s pretty athletic and clean-winded, so she hasn’t needed a lot to fit her up for that trip.
“She seems to be stronger, in good shape to get back to the track and it looks a really nice distance to start her off over.”
Scorched Earth is no stranger to travel to Adelaide having won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge in February 2021 before travelling back to Melbourne to claim the Listed St Albans Stakes at The Valley the following month.
Following wins at Benchmark 78 and 84 level, Scorched Earth wound up her autumn campaign with placings at Group 3 level in the Kevin Hayes Stakes and Typhoon Tracy Stakes .
Moloney said the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 27 was the next target.
“Those mares’ stakes races are what we’ll look to target,” Moloney said.
“Hopefully we start well on Saturday and then we can start to think about those as we progress.”