Racing
Behemoth Champ, Queman, Targets Moir Stakes
The $1m Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley is the target for top South Australian sprinter Queman following his outstanding return to racing in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville earlier this month.
Queman defied the majority of pre-race expectations and a 69-week absence from the racetrack to fight off rivals in the 1200m feature, and co-trainer Shane Oxlade said the Group 1 Moir was the next stop, depending on Melbourne weather.
"I was always keen on the Moir and so was Boof (owner Francis Smith) and the boys,'' Oxlade said.
"Providing the weather remains reasonably dry, that's the plan.
"If that doesn't happen, we have the Wylie here (in Adelaide) a week later as a back-up,'' he said.
Oxlade said Queman had thrived since his gutsy first-up run.
"We were able to give him a week in the paddock after the Behemoth, but he came through the run beautifully,'' Oxlade added.
"He had an easy time of it, but he's had a couple of nice gallops since, and the boss is really happy with him. He looks a million dollars,'' he said.
The form from the Behemoth Stakes will be tested again this weekend with the Daniel Bowman-trained Is It Me set for his second-up mission in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
Is It Me was heavily backed to win the Behemoth before finishing fourth. Recommendation, who finished second in the Behemoth running down the track in the Listed Regal Roller last time out, while Lingani continued her good form running third in the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes at Morphettville last weekend.
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