Clemency tackles Zoustar Stocks Stakes

Clemency, who is trained for Qatar Bloodstock by Robert Smerdon, bids to gain black type in today's Gr.2 Zoustar Stocks Stakes (21.00 local, noon in UK) at Moonee Valley.

Following two withdrawals nine runners line up for the contest in which Clemency, a daughter of champion sire Redoute's Choice, will be ridden by Craig Williams. A weather forecast that predicts heavy rain in Melbourne this weekend has caused Smerdon to reroute the five-year-old to Moonee Valley, and Qatar Bloodstock representative Geoffrey Faber said: ‚"The prospect of Clemency running on Sunay in race eight, drawn one of 16 in what could be a marsh, is not on the agenda. The only place you do not want to be is on the rail in those conditions.‚"

Of today's race, Faber said: ‚"She is well drawn and is a course and distance winner, and Craig rides which is a plus. She has a squeak of gaining some black type.‚"

The race is named after exciting young stallion prospect Zoustar, whose first crop are now yearlings, and in which Qatar Bloodstock is a shareholder.

Qatar Racing has two runners in Europe today Dame De Sang runs for Freddy Head's stable in a maiden (16.15 local time) at Lyon La Soie, while Skinnydipper heads to Saint Cloud to run in a claimer (12.45) for Andreas Wohler's yard.