CAUL OCT 16 - SET FOR FAME'S WINNING RETURN

By Taron Clarke | Monday, October 18, 2010

Caulfield, October 16, 2010.
Track - Heavy 10. Rail - Out 6m. Penetrometer 6.45.
Caulfield Sprint (Group 2) Open Handicap - 1100m.
Time: 1-05.42. 600m Sectional: 36.23. (Carrying 54kg).
1 Set For Fame; 2 Dubleanny; 3 Soul.
Margins: 2.0L x 0.3L.

Peter Moody’s consistent mare Set For Fame returned to the track in winning style at Caulfield on Saturday afternoon by scoring an impressive first-up victory in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint over 1100 metres.

The win, gave the daughter of Reset her third success at Group 2 level, with Moody certain to chase Group 1 glory this time in.

Set for Fame ran an unlucky second behind Rock Classic in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington in March, before campaigning in Sydney and Brisbane with the mare being under a virus cloud for several weeks.

Clearly the spell has done her the world of good for the well regarded mare as she maintained her impressive first-up record with a comprehensive victory over some top quality sprinters.

Set For Fame and Nolen jumped away quickly from their outside barrier, but Nolen allowed the mare to find her feet early and the pair settled towards the rear of the field.

Mark Kavanagh’s speedy gelding Definitely Ready showed his customary early dash to lead through the first 400 metres.

Through the mid stages of the 1100 metre scamper, Nolen let his mount slide forward under her own steam out three wide on the track and the pair closed to within four lengths of the lead inside the 600 metres.

Around the home turn Nolen chased the mare along to keep in touch with the leader Definitely Ready, who held a two length margin at the head of affairs.

Given a flick with the whip at the 300 metres, Set For Fame ran to a clear second and set out with meaning after Definitely Ready.

Inside the distance marker, Set For Fame responded to Nolen and she knuckled down to gobble up Definitely Ready before drawing clear.

Dubleanny worked home down the outside to run in to second, but it was all Set For Fame over the concluding stages as the mare cruised to the line to score by a comfortable two length margin over Dubleanny with the favourite Soul a neck further back in third position.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Peter Moody: “We went into the winter so she had a good clean break up in Queensland and she came back in great shape.

“She was another one of my team that went through the virus in Sydney. We had to stop, start again and we got a Group 2 out of her.

“Disappointed a little with the Winter Stakes, but she spelled really well and she's back on top of her game now.

“I think (she’s best at) six furlongs (1200m) up to a mile (1600m), so we'd probably head to Flemington now.

“What race, I'm not 100 per cent sure. You never know, she could end up in a race like the Railway in Perth.

“She's seasoned now and I think she goes better on top of the ground so looking forward to that.”

Jockey Luke Nolen: “She's been going nice. She's had two trials leading up to this and her work Tuesday morning was first rate.

"She put in a couple of short ones late, but got the job done.

“I produced her and she put the race beyond doubt pretty soon. That should bring her right to her peak. I think they had aspirations of going to the west.

“Probably slight improvement in the track now. With that wind, it's sort of drying out a bit and with the nice sunshine on it, it's going to improve a little bit, but I don't think you're going to see an upgrade. Just the softer spots might just firm up a bit for us.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Set for Fame):4.40 out to 5.00 into 4.40.
Favourite (Soul): 2.80 out to 3.80. Finished third.

Horse to follow: Devastating victory first-up for Set for Fame. Trainer seems to think she goes better on top of the ground. Sure to chase Group 1’s during this campaign and is more than capable of figuring in that company.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Inside the final 200m, Keano (NZ) was held up for clear running and subsequently went to the winning post not being fully tested.

M Rodd (Definitely Ready) explained that his mount raced too keenly in the early and middle stages and suggested that the gelding may be better suited without blinkers.

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