Reigning Eclipse champion turf female Moira is set to make her 6-year-old debut April 5, but she'll do so south of the equator. Entered in the AU$4 million Doncaster Mile (G1) at Randwick Racecourse, the Ghostzapper mare was one of a handful of mares purchased by Yulong Investments at the breeding stock sales last fall.
Yulong, signing as Bayles, picked Moira up for US$4.3 million at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale. One day later, Yulong bought three-time grade 1 winner Anisette for US$1.8 million at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Both mares were last seen at Del Mar Nov. 2 in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). Moira was victorious on the day, notching her first grade 1 win by a half-length, while Anisette finished five lengths back in ninth. As they did in the Breeders' Cup, the duo, both now trained by Chris Waller, will break from adjacent stalls near the outside of the 24-horse field, Anisette from post 20 and Moira from 21.
They certainly face a tall order in their seasonal and Southern Hemisphere debuts. Moira has not won at the mile distance, primarily doing her best running at longer distances, though she did win a seven-furlong stakes on the all-weather track at Woodbine in 2022 and finished second in the one-mile Nassau Stakes (G2T) in 2023. The Adena Springs-bred runner will have Zac Purton up.
Anisette has won twice at a mile, including a victory in the 2023 San Clemente Stakes (G2T). She'll be ridden by Michael Dee.
Among their chief competition are 2025 Australian group 1 winners Another Wil, Tom Kitten, and Gringotts. Another Wil won the Feb. 8 C.F. Orr Stakes (G1) before finishing fourth behind victorious Tom Kitten in the All Star Mile (G1) March 8. Tom Kitten subsequently ran fifth last out in the George Ryder Stakes (G1) March 22, won by Gringotts, who notched his first top-level victory with the win.
Switzerland Faces Older in T J Smith
Switzerland, winner of the 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1), takes on elders in the weight-for-age T J Smith Stakes (G1) going 1,200 meters (about six furlongs), also at Randwick.
Owned by a Coolmore-led partnership and trained by Waller, 3-year-old Switzerland has a previous group win over the track, having taken top honors in the 2024 Todman Stakes (G2). The Snitzel colt is the first foal out of the Blame mare Ms Bad Behavior, who won the 2019 Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs. He will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
The field of 13 also includes fellow 3-year-old Traffic Warden. The Street Boss colt is a multiple group 2 winner and finished second in the 2024 Sires Produce Stakes (G1) at Randwick.
Older runners of note include two-time Winterbottom Stakes (G1) winner Overpass, Newmarket Handicap (G1) winner Joliestar, multiple group 1 winner Magic Time, and the New Zealand-bred Oakleigh Plate (G1) winner Jimmysstar.
Sires' Produce Stakes
Golden Slipper (G1) runner-up Wodeton will sport the winkers once again Saturday when he lines up in the Sires' Produce at Randwick. Wodeton is set to be partnered by Moore for the first time, and Waller is keen to see the colt ridden quietly once again. The trainer also said that while holding a 2-year-old together following a peak run could be a juggling act, Wodeton appeared to have coped exceptionally well.
"You don't have to overtrain them after their grand final," Waller said "He's a colt, he's a young horse. He's thriving. He has come through the Slipper really well and the 1,400 will be no problem."
Wodeton and Moore will jump from barrier 9. The juvenile is one of five Randwick rides for Moore, who, in addition to Wodeton and Switzerland, also partners British raider Desert Hero for William Haggas in the Chairman's Quality (G2).
Australian Derby
Trainer Glen Thompson deems Plymouth a big chance in Saturday's Australian Derby (G1) at Randwick with some better luck in running. The gelding finished fourth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by Broadsiding in the March 22 Rosehill Guineas (G1) under Mark Zahra, and Thompson believes he could have finished closer had he not been held up behind the leaders early in the home straight.
"I thought he ran very well," Thompson told Racing.com. "He was a bit unlucky. Mark was of the same opinion that if he'd got out at the top of the straight and got a bit more momentum, he would have made it pretty interesting.
"But it is what it is, he got stuck on the fence and ran very well. I think he'll be better again up to 2,400 meters. I was up watching him work on Tuesday and he worked great."
Zahra retains the ride on Plymouth Saturday, with the pair set to jump from barrier 3.
"We wanted to draw well so he gets some sort of an easy run," Thompson said. "We drew well last time and he didn't have much luck, so we need things to go our way. But with any sort of luck in running, up to 2,400 meters, I think he'll run very well. I think he's right in the mix."
