Temperature Rises for WA Pair

Posted on September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 | Posted by Tim Walker

Trap For Fools and Quilista will look to enhance their chances of running in Group 1 races over the Melbourne spring carnival, when they line up at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Quilista lines up in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) under Weight-For-Age conditions, where she faces Everest fancies Nature Strip and Shoals.

Saturday’s event will provide a strong guide for trainer Darren Weir as to whether Quilista would measure up in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 28.

Weir’s stable foreman Jarrod McLean said the mare had trained on well since her fourth place finish in the Carlyon Stakes on August 25.

“She’s really good,” he told TABradio.

“Her first-up run was terrific on that track that favoured front runners.

“She was slow away and got into a tricky spot.

“To see her get out at the top of the straight and charge into fourth the way she did, she’s in for a really good prep.”

TABtouch has Quilista rated $11 for Saturday’s feature, with the market headed up by Weir’s rising star Nature Strip at $1.50.

McLean said he expected Nature Strip to win on Saturday and secure his spot in the Everest in doing so.

“He’s in great order,” he said.

“He’s probably a little bit fitter and maybe a little bit better than Quilista.

“I’m sure by Saturday, he would’ve secured his slot in the Everest.”

The other WA flavour to Saturday’s Moonee Valley meeting is the McLean-trained Trap For Fools, who lines up in the Harrolds Handicap (2040m).

Trap For Fools broke through for his first win in Victoria at the same track and distance on August 25.

McLean said it was important for Trap For Fools to keep winning to try and secure a spot in the Caulfield Cup in October.

“The key to him now is to keep winning and get his rating up,” he said.

“He will possibly have to win one of the ballot free races like the Naturalism or the Caulfield Stakes.

“I hope he can win on Saturday, I think he can and he has come on nicely.”

Trap For Fools is rated a $3.30 chance with TABtouch, while there are four other runners in single figure odds.

McLean said another of Weir’s runners Night’s Watch would also get his chance to secure a Caulfield Cup spot, when he lines up in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

Night’s Watch is a $3.60 TABtouch favourite, ahead of Hartnell at $3.70.