Villiers Handicap: Champion trainer in the Mood

The Villiers Handicap is to be run on Saturday

Gary Crispe looks at Warwick Farm feature on Saturday, due off at 05:20 GMT.

Champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody who has been enjoying considerable success from his satellite Sydney based stable launches a two pronged attack on the G2 Villiers Handicap at Warwick Farm on Saturday with Shout Out Loud and Highly Recommended.

One of Sydney's Summer Carnival features the Villiers Handicap is normally run over the famous Randwick mile but for the second year in succession will again be held at Warwick Farm due to reconstruction works at Headquarters.

Dating back to 1892, the Villiers has always been a competitive race, the average winning margin for the last 20 years being half a length is testimony to that. History also says winning form is good form with nine of the last 11 winners being last start winners including the last four renewal winners.

That statistic sits well for the top Timeform rated galloper in today's field Shout Out Loud who with stable mate Highly Recommended will be Moody's first ever runners in the race since branching out from Victoria.

Shout Out Loud has hit form quickly since a spell winning second up in the Victoria Cup over 1440m at Caulfield 21 days ago defeating a handy line up that also included Highly Recommended.

Ridden by apprentice Jake Duffy, Shout Out Loud was always handy in the run before taking the lead soon after turning for home and proving too strong in the closing stages having just under a length to spare from Danzylum on the line.

That was his first success in just six starts for Moody, the gelding was previously trained in the Northern Territory where he won the 2010 Darwin Cup over 2000m defeating Hawks Bay.

Moody has taken his time with Shout Out Loud and I am certain the gelding has more to give this campaign.

Moody's Sydney stable jockey Josh Parr will take the ride on the three time 1600m winner and from barrier one he should get the perfect run. For Parr it will be his fifth ride in a Villiers Handicap and he will be looking to improve on his 2009 result when a close third on Spinney who was trained by Peter Snowden.

There are plenty of dangers in a capacity field of eighteen runners, however I find it hard split his stable mate Highly Recommended as the new horse on the scene and the locally trained Galah. 

The now four-year-old Highly Recommended who is Timeform rated 112 was mixing it with some of the leading three-year-olds last season in races like the Rosehill Guineas, Alister Clark Stakes and Australian Guineas. He was not disgraced around horses like Mosheen, Ethiopia, Ocean Park and Silent Achiever, so if close to that form he looks well suited with just half a kilo over the limit this afternoon.

Highly Recommended's two runs back have both been sound and point to added fitness for this afternoon's assignment.

Fresh up in the Listed Heffernan Stakes over 1300m at Sandown he was near last on straightening but worked home very well in the closing stages beaten just under six lengths behind stable mate Mid Summer Music.

Then last start under 60kgs after a slow start he was forced to cover ground mid race before getting a long way out of his ground approaching the home turn. He made up ground steadily in the run to the winning post beaten just over four lengths but was clearly anchored by his big weight.

While not a winner third run back from a spell, Highly Recommended did run fifth to Mosheen in the G1 Australian Guineas over 1600m last preparation in that state, a run and rating that if reproduced here would almost see him the winner.

In an interesting move Moody has bought stable rider Luke Nolen to Sydney to partner the entire and I am expecting an improved showing under these conditions, especially as he receives a hefty 6.5 kilos weight relief from his last run.

Locally trained horses have a great record at Warwick Farm a fact that is sure to assist the chances of the Peter Snowden-trained Galah.

Timeform rated 112, Galah also brings some useful three-year-old form to the race such as a closing third to subsequent Epsom Handicap winner Fat Al in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes over 1600m at Randwick last April.

Galah also finished third behind So Swift in the 2011 Sandown Guineas (1600m) and has a head victory over Highly Recommended in the 2011 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in 2011 to his credit. In fact Galah and Highly Recommended have met four times with Galah holding a three to one advantage.

The way Galah races he always needs luck which explains why he has not won a race for 420 days however his last two runs have both been strong rating efforts and definitely keep him under consideration.

Galah started this campaign in Melbourne catching the eye fresh up in the G2 Gilgai Stakes down the straight 1200m finishing fourth to Hallowell Belle. A close up sixth followed in the G3 Moonga Stakes over 1400m before a half head defeat over 1600m at Flemington in restricted class.

Then switched to Sydney with the Villiers as his goal, Galah came off a 28 day break to contest the Listed Festival Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill. Wearing blinkers for the first time Galah seemed much more focussed winding up strongly in the closing stages from ninth on the turn to grab third place behind Malavio.

A previous winner on the Warwick Farm circuit, Galah on a 14 day back up looks ideally suited to give Snowden and race rider Kerrin McEvoy their first Villiers winner.

Mares have a good record in the Villiers Handicap with four of the last ten renewals falling the way of the fairer sex, Dances On Waves (2010), Palacio De Cristal (2009), Aqua D'Amore 92005) and Ike's Dream (2004), the last pair being equal highest Timeform rated winners on 114.

This year the honest Cabernet Timeform rated 113 looms as a strong winning prospect. She comes off a last start close up fifth in the Festival Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill hitting the line well after being short of galloping room at various stages in the home straight.

At her start prior Cabernet was an impressive winner in the Listed Summoned Stakes at Sandown over 1500m and although she is yet to win over 1600m, the mare was beaten a lip in the Listed Aspiration Stakes over the Randwick mile last Autumn.

Leading rider Hugh Bowman will ride the locally trained mare who should get plenty of cover from her middle draw. 

Top weight and last year's winner of the Villiers Monton has to be included amongst the chances but he faces plenty of historical barriers.

No horse has won the Villiers Handicap back to back and no horse has carried 59kgs or the imperial equivalent to win since Filipino in 1948.

The last horse to attempt that feat was This Manshood in 2003. With Zac Purton in the saddle he finished a gallant fifth beaten just under two lengths from On A High.

In the last 20 years just three previous winners have attempted to go back to back, Cobbora (1993/4), Final Fantasy (1999/00) and Grey And Gold (2000/01) - all three were well beaten the following year.

Timeform rated 122, Monton deserves his 59kgs. After all he carried 58kgs to a comfortable win last year and his form since despite not winning a race has been sound.

Drawn well in four, Monton will be ridden by apprentice Sam Clipperton who was aboard the gelding fresh up when second in the Festival Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill. 

The fact Clipperton cannot claim his allowance is another negative however trainer Ron Quinton obviously believes the horse will run well for the lad.

Enjoy a cracking Villiers Handicap.