Taking on a bunch of Everest hopefuls in the Concorde Stakes isn’t quite the first-up showdown Michael Freedman originally planned for Moravia, but it isn’t a challenge he is shying away from either.
The four-year-old was slated to resume in a benchmark race at Rosehill last Saturday but was scratched after drawing barrier 19 of 20.
Instead, Freedman has decided to toss the horse’s hat in the ring for Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick, a race that has quickly manifested as a key Everest audition.
Among his rivals will be comeback galloper Giga Kick, top mare Bella Nipotina and consistent Group 1 performer Private Eye.
Placed in the San Domenico Stakes and The Run To The Rose last spring, Moravia was gelded after not quite hitting the mark during the Sydney autumn.
While he has turned in two unplaced runs since then in Queensland, Freedman is seeing a noticeable difference this time off a clean slate.
“He had a semi-prep last time where he was gelded, then he had three weeks off, then he went to Queensland,” Freedman said.
“He struck a bottomless heavy ten (track) at the Sunshine Coast and got caught wide from a bad gate at his second start up there then went back to the paddock.
“This is probably his first genuine preparation as a gelding.
“Early indications this time back, with his trackwork and trials, are that he is very switched on and focused.”
Moravia’s best form is on firm going, which he should strike on Saturday.
While he finds himself in a hot race, he does have a low draw in barrier five with Dylan Gibbons to ride.
Both Giga Kick and Bella Nipotina are among the top four horses in The Everest markets and will be striving to bed down their chances for a slot in the elite field.