Golden Rose 2014: Moody chasing two-state Group One double

Dissident dismantled a classy field in the Memsie Stakes but in an ominous warning trainer Peter Moody said the horse would even be better in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Moody’s team of horses have made a flying start to the new season and he is in a strong position to challenge for a two-state Group One double on Saturday.

Dissident takes aim in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) second-up at Flemington while Bring Me The Maid is equal favourite for the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.

Stablemate Better Land is also high in Golden Rose betting and Moody is sweating on the talented colt gaining a start.

Four-year-old Dissident made his return in the first Group One of the season last Saturday week at Caulfield, sprinting to a convincing win to add the Memsie to his Randwick Guineas triumph as a three-year-old.

Ben Melham retains the ride on Dissident with stable jockey Luke Nolen to partner Bring Me The Maid in Sydney.

“Dissident has trained on nicely and is in good shape,” Moody said.

“He has come on well.”

Moody was thrilled with the return of Dissident but said he considered the Makybe Diva Stakes an even more suitable big race target.

“I thought the bigger track at Flemington would suit him better,” he said.

Better Land was second in The Rosebud after a three-wide run, while in the Up And Coming Stakes his winning chances were dashed by the erratic Liberation who interfered with Better Land and a couple of other horses in the run to the line.

It leaves Better Land struggling to secure a place in the Golden Rose but Moody has been happy to keep the well-bred colt in Sydney in the hope he makes the field.

Golden Slipper placegetter Bring Me The Maid stamped her Golden Rose credentials with a first-up win in the Silver Shadow Stakes.

“She and Better Land worked lovely on Saturday morning,” Moody said.

“I went up and watched them work at Randwick and I’m really pleased with both of them.

“We’ve just got to hope Better Land gets a run.”

Should Better Land not get into the Golden Rose he would most likely be floated back to Melbourne later in the week to run in the Listed Henry Bucks Stakes at Flemington.

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