Group 1 winner Inspirational Girl launches Melbourne spring campaign in Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley

Group 1 winner Inspirational Girl will make a later start to her Melbourne spring campaign than anticipated when she resumes in the Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Leading jockey Jye McNeil is expected to ride the 2020 Railway Stakes (1600m) winner and reigning Perth Cup (2400m) victor Midnight Blue for WA owners Bob and Sandra Peters at Moonee Valley.

A cold held Inspirational Girl back from launching her latest Melbourne campaign for trainer Danny O’Brien.

The Peters’, who won the Feehan with Superstorm last year, hope to race her over more ground this spring with the $5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) a possible target.

“She had a little setback so that’s why she’s a bit behind,” Bob Peters said.

“I don’t expect a lot from her first-up.

“She’s going to get over further so she can kick off over the mile.”

Inspirational Girl won the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in March and hasn’t raced since running 14th in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) on a heavy Randwick track in April.

Midnight Blue will race second-up at Moonee Valley after running fourth in a 1600m handicap at Caulfield on August 13.

“We might enter him in 1600m and 2040m races next Saturday,” Bob Peters said.

“He’ll probably go in the 2040m race. He’s a stayer and he should be ready to step up now.”

Peters has made a slight change to Western Empire’s program after he ran fifth as the $4.80 favourite in Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield first-up.

“He’ll run in the Makybe Diva with Regal Power,” Peters said.

“The idea was to keep them apart but they’ll both go that way now.

“Western Empire and Graceful Girl pulled up OK. We’ll just push on and see what happens.”

The Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) is at Flemington on September 10.

WA sprinter Red Can Man is expected to tackle the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) on the same day.

The Steve Wolfe-trained gelding ran sixth to Shooting For Gold in The McCafe Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Kissonallforcheeks will progress to the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 17 after her encouraging third to Chain Of Lightning in the Cockram Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.