Premiership trainer Peter Moody prepared his third winner by Swettenham Stud sire Equiano (Fr) this season when Jay Venture scored a front-running victory at Mornington on Tuesday.

Moody also part-owns the Equiano filly with Limerick Lane breeder Gerry Ryan.  She jumped straight to the lead from an inside gate and held the fence despite being pressured by Toss The Bouquet.

Jay Venture (3f Equiano – Salinas by Al Maher) dropped the cut-throat on the corner and then held off a driving finish from Dymphna to win by a short-head.  She was racing for just the second time after a midfield debut at Cranbourne earlier this month.

“She just kept rolling and it was a good win,” Limerick Lane manager Tony Merrifield said.  “Peter said she went home and ate up well.  He will keep her going and find another suitable race while she handles the workload.”

Moody had won with Equiano colts Best Bold and Devils Pinch last month and can add another with Port Triano who is ready to break through after placings at his first two starts.  He also has an Equiano – Class Prevails 2yo colt on the books named Jackanory.

“Peter must have the key to Equiano,” Merrifield said.  “He trained Jay Venture’s dam Salinas for Gerry and she won as a three year-old at Flemington and Caulfield.”

Salinas also finished fourth in a Morphettville Guineas and second dam Leica Smile (At Talaq) was a Group 1 winner of the Australasian Oaks.

“She isn’t a big mare and Jay Venture was a touch on the small side as a yearling.  She was one of the best on paper by Equiano at last year’s Melbourne Premier and Peter bought her on spec.  Another half-hand higher and she would have made about $80,000.”

Equiano’s Australian three year-olds are heading in the same direction as his English counterparts where he leads the second-season winners and wins table from Zebedee, Showcasing and Paco Boy.

His overall record in Europe is 42 winners of 62 races this year and his USA export Lola Beaux was runner-up in the G3 Commonwealth Oaks (1800m) at Laurel last Saturday.

Swettenham Stud stands Equiano for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.