Moody Eyes Karaka Million 3YO Trophy

Leading Victorian trainer Peter Moody has set his sights on travelling to New Zealand with Encosta Belief after the three-year-old scored by a length yesterday in the Kenvain Handicap (1400m) at Sandown.

Carrying 58.5kg Encosta Belief (Encosta De Lago x Plaisir d'Amour, by Danehill) secured his second victory, with his nine career starts to date showing tremendous consistency with four second placings, two fourths, and a fifth, on top of his wins.

Adding further strength behind his bid to take on some of New Zealand's leading three-year-olds including Katie Lee, Joey Massino, and Prince of Wales, is Encosta Belief's form around some of Australia's leading athletes of the same age.

At his second start as a juvenile Encosta Belief ran second, two-and-a-half lengths behind Denman (Lonhro) who two months later won the $1,000,000 Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).

On three separate occasions Encosta Belief also finished immediately behind Stoneblack (Danzero) who has been three times stakes-placed behind Extra Zero (Danzero), the horse who put in a huge effort to finish second behind Monaco Consul (High Chaparral) in the Group 1 VRC Derby.

With Derbys in mind, Moody has every intention of using the $200,000 Karaka Million 3YO Trophy (1600m) as a stepping stone for Encosta Belief's tilt at the $2,200,000 Telecom New Zealand Derby (2400m) on 6 March.

The Group 2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie on 20 February has also been indicated as a likely start for Encosta Belief a fortnight prior to the Telecom Derby.

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�Champion Australian sire Encosta De Lago is represented by 13 yearlings at Karaka 2010

Moody has an eye for a Derby runner at Karaka and testament to this is the fact that at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale the leading Victorian trainer signed for two Encosta De Lago colts at $150,000 apiece.

One is of course Encosta Belief, the other is Hanks (ex Sister Fromseattle) who won the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) this season�before being spelled in preparation for the Group 1 AJC Derby in the Autumn.

Encosta Belief was purchased from Denny and Mark Baker's Hallmark Stud who this year will offer nine yearlings at Karaka Premier including a bay colt by Encosta De Lago.

Lot 361 - Bay Colt - Encosta De Lago x Danzanta (King of Kings) - Hallmark Stud

• A colt from a strong international family that includes his Group 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes winning grand-dam Love Lock (Silver Ghost).
• Mark Baker says of the colt, "He ticks every box. He is a great mover and has a great attitude; you can't fill him up and you can't keep him up."

The $200,000 Karaka Million 3YO Trophy is set to join the $1,000,000 Karaka Million (juveniles) for the very first time at Ellerslie's twilight race-meeting on 31 January.

With entry based on NZTR ratings, which Australian entrants will be attain when arriving in New Zealand, there has been plenty of movement in the Karaka 3YO Trophy Order of Entry over the Christmas - New Year period with over 10 eligible victors in under two weeks.

Click here to view the full list of eligible horses and their ratings.