3 minute read
In Good Health Wins Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield.
In Good Health has earned a reprieve from the breeding barn with a tough on-pace victory in the $140,000 Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of US stallion Congrats from the More Than Ready mare Fitness, may now be set for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups following Saturday's victory.
In Good Health had been successful in a midweek race at Sandown at her previous start and was pitted against a number of spring contenders in the early stages of their campaigns.
In a race suiting on-pace horses, In Good Health ($61) defeated the $3 favourite Sircconi by a short-head with Game Keeper ($5.50) a long-neck away in third place.
Trained by Peter Moody and ridden by Luke Nolen, In Good Health is part-owned by highly regarded breeder Stuart Ramsay who has been a long-time client of the trainer.
Moody revealed Ramsay had said if In Good Health was not capable of producing the goods during the spring then it may be time the mare was retired to stud.
"Stuey put a bit of pressure on me during the week saying that he's got a stallion ready for her if I can't get her to keep performing," Moody said.
"She's progressive and she might want to get to a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half.
"He (Ramsay) made me nom her for the Cups and there were plenty of Cups aspirants behind her.
"You never know."
Moody described the victory as special.
"The Ramsay family have been one of my biggest supporters, they've been there since day one," Moody said.
"Special people and the Frith family from Roma in western Queensland - out in my country – it's so very gratifying."
Nolen said Moody was a lot more relaxed in his second round of training after being out for four years.
"He's got a new lease on life particularly for training and I'm the lucky recipient," Nolen said.
"We're getting close to 800 winners as a combination, so this one gets us one closer again.
"It's a really nice privilege to win a stakes race for Peter and Stuart Ramsay."
In Good Health took her record to six wins from 25 starts and $236,305 in prize money for connections Ramsey Pastoral Pty Ltd, Mr C O Frith, Mr J O Frith, Mr B R McDougall, Mr R Parkinson with Saturday's win.
