Mollynickers to chase Spring Racing Carnival riches

Trainer Peter Moody may have to go and raise the bar with Mollynickers after the filly registered a comfortable win at Caulfield.

Mollynickers took out the VOBIS Gold Ingot (1400m) on Saturday to give Moody successive wins in the race for two-year-olds.

Boogie Dancer won the corresponding race last year and later in the Spring Racing Carnival went on to be competitive in Stakes company.

A heavily backed $1.75 favourite under Carleen Hefel, Mollynickers registered a soft 1-¾ length win from Gawnski ($21) with Eugenius ($6.50) a further 1-¼ lengths away third.

“She looked like she won with a bit in hand and was well-ridden by Carleen,” Moody said.

“I might have to go home and have a bit of a think now.

“We won this race last year with Boogie Dancer and she ended up favourite in the Thousand Guineas and ran fourth, so we may have to start thinking Spring Carnival – when where and how and what sort of trip.

“She gives me the impression she has a bit of scope to get out to a mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) as she is a lovely, relaxed filly.

“Is she an Oaks filly, that may be a long bow to draw, but t’s nice to have those options available after a couple of wins.”

Mollynickers returned from a break to win first-up on heavy ground at Moe and appreciated the rise in journey on Saturday and the firmer footing.

Moody said he was likely to continue with the filly’s preparation and chase ‘Black Type’ earlier, rather than later, in the Spring Carnival.

He added with the Group 1 Thousand Guineas being run a month later than in previous years, Mollynicker’s chance at the highest level might not come until the autumn.

“She might end up in something sooner and she might be a filly that if we can get some ‘Black Type’ now, we could put her away and chase something in the autumn,” Moody said.