Clayton Douglas is excited about the challenge of bringing Title Fighter to Moonee Valley to compete in the sprinter’s first Stakes race. Following victories at Pakenham and Geelong, Title Fighter jumps significantly in grade when he lines up in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) on Friday night. Title Fighter is undefeated in two runs this campaign, winning first-up in a benchmark 74 race at Pakenham before scoring at benchmark 84 level over 1100m at Geelong on January 4. The sprinter’s strong third-up record gives Douglas confidence in Title Fighter when he faces competitors like Southport Tycoon, Steparty, Schwartz, and Poison Chalice. Additionally, Douglas stated that the gelding’s preference for the Moonee Valley circuit was another factor in his decision to Group 2 company on Friday night.
Douglas remarked, “He’s clearly in really good form and has won his last couple.” “He’s in excellent form, but it’s a big ask, especially at weight-for-age and at that level, where there are three or four that look a little better than him right now.”The owners are eager to give him a try, and since he has previously won at The Valley and is doing well, we will give it a shot. After competing in races worth $80,000 and $100,000 at his last two starts, Douglas stated that Friday night’s race, which has $350,000 in prize money up for grabs, will be the richest one that Title Fighter has entered.
“He has a strong third-up record, and there aren’t many chances to run for this kind of money at The Valley,” Douglas remarked. “He has drawn a good gate, he rides a fit horse, and he rides with confidence.” Although Title Fighter has now won four races, Douglas, a debut winner at The Valley in July 2023, stated that it had taken some time for the “penny to drop” in terms of what it meant to be a racehorse. “He won third-up Caulfield as a three-year-old and went boom at his first start, but then he went off the boil again,” Douglas remarked. “I’ve figured out how he wants to be trained because he’s the kind of horse.”He simply enjoys cruising between races and that seems to suit him best, so hopefully we’ll see the best of him at The Valley.”
