2022 Moir Stakes preview & betting strategy | September 23

Headlining the return of racing under lights at Moonee Valley on Friday night is the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), where a field of 12 sprinters will light up the track.

Having won the McEwen Stakes, the Robert Heathcote-trained Rothfire ($4.40) shares the top line of betting with Godolphin sprinter Paulele ($4.40) with online bookmakers struggling to split the classy duo. Zoustyle ($7) and Generation ($9) round out the hopes at single-figure quotes, but the chances do not end there.

It will be the charge of the light brigade early, with Paulele, Rothfire, Zoustyle, Malkovich, Generation and Coolangatta all looking to settle in a forward position. The Inferno, September Run and Extremely Lucky will be out the back early but will be the ones flashing home late.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 Moir Stakes.

Having finished second in this race last year, the Cliff Brown-trained The Inferno is back looking to go one better in the Moir. The six-year-old gelding boasts a breathtaking second-up record having won four times from five goes and based off his return in the McEwen, there is no reason why he cannot build off it here. He was run off his feet early and from the inside barrier did well to pick a way through the field and be beaten just over two-lengths. He meets a lot of those same rivals again on Friday night but drawn out in barrier eight is set to benefit him tenfold. If Blake Shinn can have this bloke settled a touch closer than what The Inferno was first-up, he has the turn of foot to storm home down the centre of the track and cause a boil-over in the Group 1.

September Run managed to tick off her maiden Moonee Valley success in some style during the autumn when saluting in the William Reid Stakes during the autumn and can replicate that result again on Friday. Much the same as The Inferno, the five-year-old mare from the Chris Waller yard is set to appreciate the ridiculous tempo this race will be run at. She draws inside The Inferno which may be a slight issue, but if Kerrin McEvoy can have the mare moving through her gears approaching the turn, she will be the one with the last look at some potentially vulnerable leaders.

Paulele and Rothfire are deserving favourites and if they can handle the hot tempo expected throughout the 1000m scamper, the pair could be the two going stride-for-stride inside the final furlong and battle it out themselves. Throw in the likes of Extremely Lucky and Zoustyle and the 2022 Moir Stakes is a wide open affair with plenty of live chances.

2022 Moir Stakes selections & best bets

• 1

  THE INFERNO

• 8

  SEPTEMBER RUN

• 3

  ROTHFIRE

• 2

  PAULELE

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