Jim Moloney Stakes – 2021

Track: Slow? Weather: Possible Showers

Nine three year old fillies have accepted for the $160,000 Jim Moloney Stakes.  The key lead up race is the Atlantic Jewel which was run at Moonee Valley on September 4.  Five of them ran in it and the winner was Zouzarella who has come up a warm favourite in early markets for this event.  She is unbeaten and steps to 1400m for the first time here.  Next in the betting is Mac ‘n’ Cheese.  She is a filly with plenty of promise and will appreciate getting back onto a bigger track second up.

Literary Magnate ran well first up and maps to be further forward here.  Fortunate Kiss has form around Enthaar and Ingratiating in her first prep.  Biscayne Bay won her only other second up start.  Picarones is one of two James Cummings trained fillies in the race, while Douceur flashed home to narrowly miss here first up.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Biscayne Bay

Daughter of Sebring.  She finished off okay in the Atlantic Jewel first up.  Rough hope.

2. Zouzarella

Unbeaten filly and current favourite with most of the bookies for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.  She steps to the 1400m for the first time here after two impressive Moonee Valley wins over 1200m.  Deserved favourite.

3. Mac ‘n’ Cheese

We made her a black booker after a good first up run behind Zouzarella at the Valley.  She is a big striding filly and should be much better suited on the bigger track at Sandown and stepping back out to 1400.  Expecting her to run a big race here.

4. Picarones

Godolphin filly who has one win and one placing from five trips to the races.  She wasn’t far away in the Cap D’Antibes first up at Flemington.  Is in the mix.

5. Literary Magnate

Copped a squeeze out of the gates first up and ended up a long way back as a result of that.  Thought her effort to get home into third was good considering.  Capable of settling further forward here.  Each way claims.

6. Vianello

The second of the Godolphin runners.  She gets winkers for the first time but has just one win from nine goes.  Place chance at best.

7. Douceur

Stormed home to narrowly miss here first up over the 1000m in benchmark 64 grade.  The Patrick Payne stable is going well but I have some queries with her at 1400m.

8. Fortunate Kiss

Far too good in maiden grade at Warracknabeal first up, then ran well behind the talented Linas Legend here last start.  Should get a gun run in transit.  Can measure up.

9. Queen Of Dubai

Looks the likely leader from gate three.  She started a big price in the Atlantic Jewel first up where she finished fifth.  Others have more upside than her.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
2. Zouzarella	5. Literary Magnate
3. Mac ‘n’ Cheese	3. Mac ‘n’ Cheese
5. Literary Magnate	2. Zouzarella
1. Biscayne Bay	8. Fortunate Kiss

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings: –

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	9. Queen Of Dubai
2nd	2. Zouzarella	1 length
3rd	6. Vianello	1.5 lengths
4th	4. Picarones	1.6 lengths