Dissident, the least-fancied of trainer Peter Moody’s two runners, has claimed the first Group One event of the new Australian racing season with an easy Memsie Stakes win at Caulfield.
Winner of the Randwick Guineas last season, Dissident ($12) tracked the leaders under Ben Melham before putting the race away with an impressive sprint on Saturday.
Sydney mare Sweet Idea ($8) held on to second placing after leading with Puissance De Lune ($8) running a much-improved race to take the minor placing.
“He’s a high-class colt … the world’s his oyster,” Moody said.
“That was a top-class field today and he has put them to the sword and got the job done.”
But the Memsie script didn’t go completely to plan for Moody with Moment Of Change dropping out of the race to finish last.
Moment Of Change raced outside Sweet Idea but was the first horse beaten.
From a Cups perspective, the New Zealand mare Silent Achiever came from midfield on rails to catch the eye in finishing fourth.