Spring Launching Pad For Face Off At The Valley

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 03:03

Michael Rodd brought up an early double after Face Off impressively won the $30,000 Essendon Hyundai i30 0-68 Handicap (1533m) for three-year-olds at Moonee Valley this afternoon.

The victory also ensured trainer Shaun Dwyer maintained his healthy affiliation with the inner city circuit after Disputed Bid won at the previous Moonee Valley meeting on June 14.

Ridden closer to the speed in comparison to his maiden win at Bendigo last start, Face Off quickened off the back of early leaders Mr Crane and Canny Be A Bulldog to win comfortably.

However the result may have been slightly different had Jacob Rule found clear galloping room earlier in the straight for Clang And Bang.

Face Off ($5-$7) defeated Clang And Bang ($5-$6) by three-quarters of a length with Canny Be A Bulldog ($15-$17) a further two lengths adrift in third.

Exclusive Choice ($2.80-$5.50) did its best work late to finish fourth while the heavily-supported favourite Wassaic ($4-$4.20-$3.50 fav) settled last and finished eighth.

Face Off defeated the smart Orinoco last start at Bendigo over the minimum distance and Dwyer said stable confidence was not all that high going into that event.

“The Kiwi’s put me off they reckoned it couldn’t win at 1000 metres,” Dwyer said.

“But really at Bendigo, everything gets a chance with a long straight.

“It was like a good barrier trial for him last time,” he said before adding, “He’s improved since his last run.”

Dwyer has trained such horses for these connections as Atapi and Pacific Dancer and believes Face Off could develop into a horse that could win a “third-tier race” over the spring carnival.

“He looks like he could get 2000 metres on that but at this stage I just want to have a nice think about it because he’s a nice horse and he needs to go the right way.”

Face Off is by Face Value and is the latest foal to race from the dam Garden Flower. He is the seventh named foal of the dam and is the fifth winner.

Face Off has won both his Australian starts to boast a record of two wins and a third from six starts with his prizemoney hovering around the $30,000 mark.

Rodd rode the winner of the first race of the day, the Dale Schmitt-trained Happy Angel.

Pictures: Colin Bull