Dissident a chance to back up in 2014 Underwood Stakes Field

Dissident could back up in the Underwood Stakes as trainer Peter Moody plots the best path towards the Cox Plate.

The four-year-old moved to Cox Plate favouritism when he added Saturday’s Makybe Diva Stakes win to his Memsie Stakes victory, giving him the first two Group One races in Melbourne this season.

Dissident
Dissident

While there are questions over whether Dissident will run a strong 2040m, Moody is looking to give the four-year-old his chance in the $3 million race at Moonee Valley next month.

The seven-day back-up to the Underwood is one option.

“We’ve got to assess how we best go there,” Moody told Melbourne radio station RSN on Sunday.

“I spoke to Jeff O’Connor, my racing manager, last night and said I want to look at all the history of the best possible paths toward it.

“I would assume if he came out of his box bucking and squealing tomorrow we’d probably look at backing up in the Underwood.”

If Moody believes the entire needs longer than one-week between races he will consider giving him a race day gallop instead.

The Turnbull Stakes (2000m) in three weeks could be another option.

Should Dissident back up in the Underwood Stakes over 1800m he will meet the horse he has displaced as Cox Plate favourite, New Zealand mare Silent Achiever.

She is now on the third line of the TAB’s Cox Plate betting at $15 with Dissident at $8.

Fawkner, who challenged Dissident for most of the straight before going down by a half-head in the Makybe Diva Stakes, moved to $10 with his performance on Saturday.

Dissident’s only start at 2000m was in the Rosehill Guineas in March when he finished sixth on a slow track.

His three Group Ones have been on good-rated tracks.

A dual Group One winner in Sydney during the autumn, Silent Achiever finished fourth to Dissident in the Memsie over 1400m in a pleasing return.

Damien Oliver retains the ride on Silent Achiever in the Underwood after Nash Rawiller was suspended last weekend in Japan.

The Underwood is also set to feature Melbourne Cup favourite favourite The Offer who impressed his jockey Tommy Berry with the way he found the line for fifth in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, his first race of the new season.

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