Australia: Early speed key in Moir Stakes

The New Zealand-bred filly Alabama Lass has the requisite speed to be a danger in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at five furlongs at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday evening.

Being near the front could be vital on a course such as Moonee Valley, which has a short stretch of approximately 190 yards.

Alabama Lass, a winner of 6 of 9 starts, was second in Group 1 races at six furlongs and at a mile in New Zealand last November and January. She won her first start in Australia in the listed Moomba Plate against 16 rivals at 5 1/2 furlongs on the straightaway course at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in March, which also marked her most recent appearance.

In the $654,800 Moir Stakes, Alabama Lass has drawn post 3 in a full field of 15 that includes Baraqiel, who is undefeated in three starts at Moonee Valley. A 7-year-old gelding, Baraqiel won twice at six furlongs at Moonee Valley last September and October. He also won his most recent start at the course in the Normal Carlyon Stakes at five furlongs on Aug. 23, closing from fourth of seven to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

The Moir Stakes is the Group 1 debut for Niance, a 6-year-old mare who has won 7 of 11 starts, including her last four starts from May 2024 to May of this year. Niance’s last three wins were in stakes at 5 1/2 to six furlongs, and she is quick enough to challenge for the lead or race as a stalker.

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The Moir is one of two lucrative sprints in Australia on Friday evening.

At Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, the 4-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah will be favored to extend her winning streak to six races in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes, a five-furlong race worth $654,800.

Trained by Chris Waller, Lady Shenandoah’s winning streak includes three Group 1 races at distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile from last October to her most recent start in March. A winner of 5 of 7 starts, Lady Shenandoah was third in her only appearance at five furlongs in a maiden race in her debut at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney in May 2024.

The distance suits Headwill, a 6-year-old gelding who was second or third in two Group 1 sprints last March and April, and second in the $3.2 million Quokka Stakes at six furlongs at Ascot Racecourse in Perth in his last start in April.

The Moir and Concorde Stakes could produce runners for the world’s richest sprint, the Group 1 Everest Stakes, a $13 million race at six furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 18.

Friday’s Randwick program begins at 9:50 p.m. Eastern, while the Moonee Valley program begins at 10:10 p.m. Eastern.

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