More seasoned Moravia ready for Eskimo Prince Stakes

Buoyed by what Moravia achieved at his first racing campaign, trainer Michael Freedman heads into the Sydney carnival optimistic the three-year-old can raise the bar again.

Moravia made a rapid leap into black-type company at just his second start last August, placing in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) then beating all but Cylinder in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).

Tested at Group 1 level, the colt finished a competitive sixth in the Golden Rose (1400m) before a trip to Melbourne for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) proved a bridge too far and he was spelled.

“It was his first prep, so he did a great job racing at the highest level for three-year-olds in the spring,” Freedman said.

“He’s a big, strong brute of a horse now.

“I was rapt with his trial the other day and he seems to have trained on well so I’m looking forward to getting him back and to what we can do with him in the autumn.”

Moravia resumes in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, a traditional starting point for the three-year-old colts and geldings, although Hawkes Racing filly Makarena will take on the males this year in a bid to become the first filly to capture the race since Tenant’s Tiara in 2008.

Tommy Berry, who partnered Moravia into third behind stablemates Queen Of The Ball and Hip Hip Hurrah in a recent barrier trial, has the race ride.

“Obviously there will be improvement to come out of it, but he will be ready for the 1200,” Freedman said.

Six of the nine acceptors for the Eskimo Prince will be first-up, among them Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, Spring Champion Stakes victor Tom Kitten and the lightly raced Celestial Legend for Hall Of Fame trainer Les Bridge.