Right Mood

Trainer Peter Moody has won four of the last five runnings of the G1 C F Orr S.–the first Australian Group 1 of the year–and the leading Victorian trainer has a good shot to extend his record with early favorite Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in tomorrow's edition. Dissident rose to prominence when taking the G2 Hobartville S. and the G1 Randwick Guineas back-to-back as a 3-year-old this time last year, and he added the G1 Memsie S. over this distance and the G1 Makybe Diva S. over a mile in the Australian spring. The bay just missed when second in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. over this track and trip Sept. 28, and was beaten three lengths in sixth in the G1 Caulfield S. Oct. 11. Dissident failed to fire a big one when third behind Mourinho (Aus) (Oratorio {Ire}) first-up in the G2 Australia S. over the tricky Moonee Valley course Jan. 24, but he should not be ignored on the track and trip over which he has already won two Group 1s. 

The Orr is often a good opportunity for true sprinters to steal a Group 1 while the routers are being wound up, and one who could fit the former profile is Star Rolling (Aus) (Casino Prince {Aus}). The 5-year-old gelding won the G2 P B Lawrence S. over this track-and-trip first-up in the spring, and he races fresh again here from a good draw in four. Last year's Queensland Derby winner Sonntag (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) is one who is certainly working towards longer targets, having put in his career-best over 2400 meters, but the Henry Dwyer charge has won over as short as 1500 meters. The Hawkes team-trained Entirely Platinum (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) won first-up over this trip at Rosehill in the spring, and four of his six career scores have come over this distance. The sophomore Petrology (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has come to the fore in his last few outings, winning a listed race at Flemington over 1800 meters Nov. 6 followed by the G2 Sandown Guineas when wheeled back to a mile nine days later. He was most recently second in the G3 Manfred S. over 1300 meters at Sandown Jan. 26 behind Java (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), another who has shown continued improvement as of late. The gelding rides a four-race win streak, with a score over this trip at Sandown Jan. 7, and tries the highest level for the first time.