Lord Barrington Salutes

"Our first win for the season - and hopefully the first of many!" said a delighted Michael Moroney after the impressive and much deserved victory recorded by the talented Lord Barrington at Moe on Sunday.

Getting much further back than planned - "we were intending to work forward and take the lead" - after missing the start, Lord Barrington had to do a fair bit out wide in order to improve his position.

But fortunately his class kicked in and, after hitting the lead soon after straightening, the bay was soon clear, his winning margin a soft length.

Placed at four of his five previous outings, Lord Barrington had certainly had his hoof on the till - often racing greenly but doing everything right during the running this time.

"He went straight today which is good," Moroney said, adding that "it was a strong effort."

"He was getting a bit tired late but he was entitled to after the run he had."

Raced by a large group led by R & C Legh Racing, Lord Barrington is closely related to a stable favourite, his dam being a full sister to our Stradbroke Handicap winner Mr Baritone.

We are hopeful that the winning form will continue at Sandown on Wednesday where we saddle up two runners kicking off with debutant Alaskan Rose in The

Grand Hotel Frankston Handicap.

"She is one of our better fillies," Michael Moroney said of the well related three-year-old.

"Trials are different to race day of course but on what she has shown at the jump-outs she can prove very competitive even from the tricky gate."

Catching Paul Moroney's eye at Karaka last year, the daughter of Encosta de Lago is the first foal for a city placed daughter of the Wakeful Stakes winner Quays whose dam is the Flight Stakes winner Pontal Lass.

Later in the day we have Extra Noble resuming over 1300m with Jake Bayliss to steer from an outside gate.

Having his first run since March, the imported five-year-old has had just the two Australian runs but since that time has come on well.

"He has taken a while to acclimatize but he has done so now," said Moroney.

"We are disappointed with the draw however as it makes things difficult over that trip."

"We have been very happy with his work and thought he could run a nice race first up."