Powerhouse return from Thy

Peter Moody signalled a possible Group One target for Thy after the mare’s outstanding return to racing at Caulfield this afternoon. The Garry Chittick-owned O’Reilly five-year-old stormed to victory 1200 metres in her first appearance since a break.

“It was a big effort, I won with her in the 1400-metre race on this day last year and to my amazement it was not on the programme,” Moody said. “She’s a good quality mare, she’s above average, she’s a multiple stakes winner now so she might be in for a fruitful campaign.” Moody said.

“We were tossing up whether she’d go to the breeding barn or if she’d go one more time and we’ve probably still got some time up our sleeve. Let’s hope we can encourage the Chittick family to have a few more throws at the stumps. I think she’s probably best at a mile and it’s great to see her back in winning form. It would be nice to think we might be back here in six weeks for the Toorak.”

Winner of the Listed Aspiration Stakes and third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks at Randwick, Thy powered home from second last on the turn under rider Vlad Duric for the third success of her 13-start career in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes. “I fell in love with her going to the start,’ he said. “It’s the first time I’ve ridden her and she’s a darling. She picked them up really well.”

Thy was purchased by WS during the Premier Sale at Karaka in 2010 for $600,000. She is out of the Gr.2 Travis Stakes winner Star Affair, who is also the dam of the Gr.3 Summer Cup winner Solid Billing and the South African Group One performer Galileo’s Galaxy. They hail from the hugely-successful Dennis brothers family that features the dual Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Waikato International Stakes winner The Jewel (O’Reilly).