<h2>The Latest Horse Racing News Trifecta</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Chris Waller believes $6.4 million mare Moira has her best opportunity to justify her massive price tag in Saturday's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield</li> <li>The Canadian-bred seven-year-old was purchased by Yulong Investments for US$4.3 million after winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly &amp; Mare Turf in America</li> <li>Rising to 1800 metres could be the key to unlocking the international performer's Melbourne potential after testing runs in Sydney</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Champion trainer Chris Waller sends expensive import Moira into Saturday's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, confident the 1800-metre distance will suit the mare perfectly.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Expensive Import Ready for Melbourne Test</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Moira arrives at the Underwood Stakes carrying enormous expectations after Yulong Investments paid US$4.3 million (A$6.46 million) for the Canadian-bred mare following her Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly &amp; Mare Turf victory at Del Mar. The seven-year-old represents one of the most expensive horses to race in Australia this spring, making her Caulfield assignment crucial for connections.</p> <p>Waller took over training duties from the mare's American handlers, immediately putting her through a rigorous Australian preparation. The champion trainer tested Moira's credentials in the Doncaster Mile during Sydney's autumn carnival before mapping out a spring campaign focused on Melbourne's premier staying contests.</p> <p>The step up to 1800 metres shapes as the perfect platform for Moira to demonstrate the international class that commanded such a hefty investment. Her American form suggests the longer distance will unlock her true potential, with Waller confident this represents her first genuine opportunity to repay the faith shown by her new ownership group.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Underwood Stakes Provides Perfect Platform</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Saturday's Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield has established itself as a crucial stepping stone in Melbourne's spring carnival, regularly attracting the finest middle-distance performers from across Australia and beyond. The 1800-metre contest offers substantial prize money and serves as an ideal launching pad for horses targeting the Melbourne Cup carnival's premier staying events.</p> <p>Waller's decision to campaign Moira through Melbourne rather than continue her Sydney preparation demonstrates his belief in the mare's staying credentials. The transition from American racing conditions to Australian tracks requires careful management, with the Underwood Stakes representing the culmination of months of patient preparation.</p> <p>The Group 1 contest regularly attracts quality international performers, making it an ideal testing ground for Moira's adaptation to Australian racing conditions. Success at Caulfield would validate the enormous investment made in securing her services and establish her as a genuine contender for the spring's biggest staying prizes.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Spring Campaign Targets Major Prizes</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Moira's Underwood Stakes assignment forms part of a carefully planned spring campaign designed to maximise her staying potential. The mare's American form suggests she possesses the class to compete at the highest level, with Waller's training methods expected to bring out the best in the expensive acquisition.</p> <p>The 1800-metre distance represents a sweet spot for many international performers making their Australian debuts, providing sufficient stamina test without demanding the extreme staying power required for races like the Melbourne Cup. Waller's confidence in Moira's chances reflects both her underlying ability and the meticulous preparation undertaken since her arrival.</p> <p>Victory in the Underwood Stakes would immediately establish Moira as one of the spring's most dangerous staying prospects, potentially opening doors to lucrative assignments throughout the Melbourne Cup carnival. The substantial investment made in securing her services demands results, making Saturday's Group 1 contest at Caulfield a defining moment in her Australian racing career.</p>