After combining for an extraordinary 900 winners, trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen will attempt to add another feature success to their haul this weekend, most likely at Cranbourne.
Nolen is booked to ride the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Saban in the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), where he will try to secure his first win in the race, while Moody famously claimed the Cup with Emerald Jack back in 2007 when Damien Oliver rode the winner.
Their milestone 900th victory came on Wednesday at Caulfield Heath with Cooly, and Nolen said that adding a Cranbourne Cup win would be particularly meaningful given he resides in nearby Pearcedale.
Saban resumes from a freshen-up after producing back-to-back Sandown victories over 1800m during winter and has also accepted for Sunday’s $200,000 Kilmore Cup (1600m), where Nolen is again listed to ride.
Moody said Saban had deliberately been kept away from the busiest stages of the Melbourne Spring Carnival with a view to targeting suitable summer-period races.
“He had a nice break after he had a good campaign last time around,” Moody said.
“The form around him last time, I thought, was as good as anything in this race and I’d expect him to go there and run well.
“I’ve put him in the Kilmore Cup as well as an option, but I thought the Cranbourne Cup, for a horse with his form around the likes of Sayedaty Sadaty and Earlswood and those types of horses, it’s a race that could be well within his grasp.
“He’s had a couple of nice trials, and the 1600 metres is a nice kick-off point for him.”
Saban sits among nine horses dually entered for both the Cranbourne Cup and the Kilmore Cup.
The Kilmore Cup drew a full field of 14, while Cranbourne has 16 runners with two emergencies.
Other horses appearing in both acceptances include Warnie, El Rocko, Regal Zeus, Bank Maur, Sabaj, Verdad, Pondalowie and Scheelite.
Moody said he remains flexible regarding Saban’s broader summer preparation.
“There are some races in Sydney leading up to and around Christmas that might suit,” Moody said.
“This is a starting off point, either Saturday or Sunday, I’m thinking Saturday, but I’m keeping an open mind about his campaign, but he’s ready to run, and run well.”
