Riot And Rose over feet problems, returns at Flemington

On the corresponding weekend 12 months ago, syndicator Wylie Dalziel and his main trainer Peter Moody experienced a successful day.

Moody prepared a treble at the Saturday meeting at Moonee Valley with Dalziel and his syndication group combining with Dance To Dubai and Pounding.

That day also coincided with Riot And Rose winning the Camperdown Cup for the pair.

Riot And Rose has not raced since leading throughout in that 1600m contest, and makes his racetrack return in the VRC Life Member Daniel Cornell Trophy (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The now six-year-old is the veteran of only nine starts, winning on five occasions.

Moody, who co-trains the gelding with Katherine Coleman, said the gelding has been plagued by feet issues which has restricted his racetrack visits to date.

“He’s a horse with terrible feet,” Moody said.

“He hasn’t had a significant issue, but his feet have been the issue the whole way through.”

Moody said while Riot And Rose may have been missing from the track for 12 months, he had not spent an extended amount of time on the sidelines.

He said renowned rehabilitation conditioner Lee Evison had had some input while Moody’s staff and farrier had worked tirelessly on getting the gelding back to the track.

“Lee Evison and the team at Longwarry and my staff and farriers have worked tirelessly for 12 months to get him back on track,” Moody said.

“He hasn’t been out of work for 12 months. We’ve had him up and he develops abscesses, and his feet fall apart, but touch wood, lately, he’s been good.

“He’ll go to race in normal plates, no equilox for the first time in his career.”

“He’s low flying. You wouldn’t think he could win first-up after 12 months, but I wouldn’t leave him out of consideration.”

After opening at $6.50 on Wednesday following the final declaration of Saturday’s field, Riot And Rose has drifted to $10 in latest betting and will be ridden by Luke Nolen.