Unlucky mare Floria will be racing for a chance at a possible Melbourne spring campaign when she tackles the Group Two Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm.
Floria was an impressive third behind Moriarty and Mr O’Ceiren in the traditional lead-up, the weight-for-age Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) last Saturday.
Back under handicap conditions in Saturday’s Brisbane Cup (2400m), Floria has only 53kg and meets both Moriarty and Mr O’Ceiren far better than at their last encounter.
Floria has been placed at all three of her Eagle Farm starts but in each she has been unlucky including a third in last year’s Group One Tatt’s Tiara.
In previous campaigns, Floria has been restricted to 1600m or less but this time around has been stepped up to middle distances.
Peter Moody’s stable manager Jeff O’Connor said Floria had pleased with the way she had taken to middle distance racing.
“She is working home well now in her staying races and she deserves a chance in a race like the Cup,” O’Connor said.”
“One thing in her favour Floria does meet the others well at the weights.”
O’Connor said connections would assess whether Floria raced on into the spring or went to the brood mare barn after Saturday’s race.
Fellow Victorian Ciaron Maher is one of the few visiting trainers who would prefer a wet track for the Cup in which he saddles up Mr O’Ceirin.
“As I have said many times he is up there with the best on wet tracks but probably a length or so off them on a dry track,” Maher said.
Should there be any overnight rain, trainer Chris Waller is likely to withdraw Moriarty.