Moravia suffered another frustrating loss at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, but trainer Michael Freedman remains optimistic about his talented four-year-old. He’s hoping the reintroduction of blinkers will provide the winning edge in this Saturday’s Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast.
A twice Group-placed three-year-old, Moravia has won just two of his 16 starts and disappointed as the $1.65 favourite at the Sunshine Coast last week, where he wandered after hitting the front. Freedman is hopeful that this issue can be addressed with the gear change.
“He’s got the blinkers back on Saturday. He hasn’t had the full set of blinkers for a while. He’s a very capable horse, sometimes he sort of has other ideas, I think. But he’s had a pretty good week so far this week, been keeping him nice and fresh,” Freedman said.
“Tommy (Berry) will be back on him. So, it’s obviously a pretty open race, I think and if the best of Moravia turns up, he’s very capable of knocking a race like that off.”
Blinkers have been used on Moravia sparingly, including when he finished fourth as a gelding in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) eight months ago. Freedman believes the decision to geld him later may have contributed to some of his quirks.
“He just thinks a bit, there’s no doubt about it. We kept him a colt for a fair while because he was round about as a three-year-old in the Run To the Rose and the Golden Rose. He was a bit unlucky, but he’s a quirky animal, and you do get them from time to time,” Freedman said.
“On his day and when he puts it together, he’s more than capable.”
Moravia has drawn barrier eight in the $2 million restricted listed race and enters as the $6 second favourite in what looks to be a highly competitive field. Charm Stone narrowly leads the betting market at $5.50. This will be Freedman’s sole runner on the Magic Millions card.