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Veteran Sydney horseman Kevin Moses has been sleeping easily this week to the constant patter of rain lashing his Randwick stables.
Photo by Racing and Sports
He knows the wetter Warwick Farm is on Saturday, the better his seven-year-old Mr Unforgettable will fare in the feature Cabramatta Mile (1600m).
The track was rated a slow 6 on Friday morning, but that could easily be downgraded if the heavy rain drenching eastern NSW refuses to abate.
There will likely be casualties, most notably second favourite Alma's Fury, whose trainer Paul Murray has hinted will probably be scratched from the race on Saturday morning.
But that will only play into Mr Unforgettable's hands.
“We know we'll get through the wet, but some of those horses haven't run on it,” Moses said.
“Alma's Fury just looking at it, it's never run on the wet.
“The reason they [some horses] don't handle it is they're not confident enough and they don't stretch right out. Even if it's two inches shorter, over a mile, that's a long way.
“My horse has got confidence in it and there's a lot of those other horses who haven't.”
The gelding's chances received a further boost earlier this week when three-kilogram claiming apprentice Andrew Stead took the ride off the previously engaged Jim Cassidy.
Moses, a former hoop himself, had booked the experienced Cassidy, but made the adjustment on the advice of the 49-year-old jockey.
“With the 59kg plus the vest makes it 60kg, he [Cassidy] said the track's going to be very very heavy,” Moses said.
“It was going to make it too tough for him.”
Mr Unforgettable last raced at Rosehill two weeks ago when third to Cabernet in the open handicap over 1400m, a week after finishing a close-up fifth in the $400,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m).
Moses was hopeful the horse could collect a few wins this campaign and shoot himself into contention for a Group One.
“If he can win another race it'll put him on the limit and he might get into a Doncaster or something,” Moses said.
“At this stage [of his career] he's been entered to the Stradbroke and didn't make it, he was balloted out. He was nominated for the Epsom, never made it.
“It'll be nice for him to win another race and just get a few more points.”
Meanwhile, stablemate All Legal will likely resume in the Benchmark 90 Handicap (1300m) tomorrow.
The five-year-old winner of more than $250,000 hasn't raced since running 10th in the National Sprint (1400m) at Thoroughbred Park last year.
Moses was expecting another strong campaign from the five-year-old, but hinted he'd probably need the run tomorrow.
“I think I will run him but he's only had the one trial over 800 metres,” Moses said.
“He'll get through the wet also but 1300 metres first-up on a wet track just might be a little too much asking him to win.
“He's another one that we'll try to head for those better races.”