Malice And Mogador Make Stakes Bids

Consistency and experience on one hand are matched by youth and brilliance on the other as Malice and Mogador attempt to finish off the Brisbane Winter racing carnival with a pair of stakes victories at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 25.

Malice (John O'Shea/Damian Browne), a veteran of 30 starts and five wins, steps up to the longest trip of his career in the 2200m, G3 Tattersall's Cup, a race his trainer believes is well within his scope.

"He's at the right stage of his career and his current preparation for a race like this," said John O'Shea.

"Throughout his career he's shown he's competitive in good company. He's been placed in good Group races, he's won at Listed level and he's holding his form well."

O'Shea pointed to Malice's latest effort when fourth to Hopfgarten in a Listed 1600m race at Doomben last month as a strong guide to his prospects on Saturday.

"He was exposed a bit early last time and a few of them proved too sharp for him. This time he's got an extra 600m which looks like it should suit."

Among Malice's better efforts are his win in the Listed ATC Cup at Rosehill and a second in the G3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

"He's a very honest, tough performer who finds a way to be competitive in just about any race he runs in, so we're looking forward to him doing the same on Saturday."

Mogador (John O'Shea/Robbie Fradd) is a colt O'Shea has always regarded as well above average, and who is placed to advantage in the G3 W J Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm.

"The conditions of this race look ideal for him. It's his right trip, right class and he comes in with a handy weight," O'Shea said.

Mogador prepared for Saturday's assignment with a sparkling piece of work at the Gold Coast on Wednesday and also has his last-start second in Listed company at Doomben to recommend him - although O'Shea sounded one note of caution.

"He blew the start last time, so it was a good effort to get as close as he did," the trainer said.

"The only thing is that he is at his best on a dry track, the firmer the better, so we're hoping it dries out a bit."

Godolphin's Australian team will also be in action at Randwick in Sydney where the stakes winner Barbed (John O'Shea/Tye Angland), who runs in the non-graded Winter Dash, heads a seven-horse contingent.

At Flemington in Melbourne, most interest centres on the two-year-old colt Trenchant (John O'Shea/Michael Dee) in the non-graded Bay And Ranges Handicap.