Moonlight Maid Resumes in Mannerism

Trainer Mitch Freedman's Gr1-placed mare Moonlight Maid (Puissance de Lune-Manhattan Maid, by Choisir) will resume after a nine month break in Saturday's Gr2 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield, reports racing.com. "She had a pretty arduous 3YO campaign and she hadn't had a decent spell since her mid 2YO year," Freedman said. "She just had a few niggles going on and no major issues, but we thought it was the ideal time for her to go out. She's come back really sound and she's even a bit easier to deal with in all her work. I think she's in good shape." The trainer conceded, "She will be a little ring-rusty and lack a bit of matchday fitness and we've seen her in past preps it can take a run or two for her to get to her top. She's quite a big mare and she's pretty hard on herself at home so we have to look after her." Winner of two of her ten starts to date, Moonlight Maid won the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes, and placed in both the Gr1 VRC Oaks and Gr1 Australasian Oaks. She holds nominations to four Sydney Gr1 races this autumn, the Doncaster Handicap (1600m), the Queen Elizabeth (2000m), the Sydney Cup (3200m) and the Coolmore Legacy (1600m).