Rhythm To Spare Contests Sale Cup

Whilst we don't have any runners at Moonee Valley on Saturday we are looking forward to a busy and hopefully successful weekend with a number of very nice horses heading to the weekend's provincial meetings.

The first of those is the lightly raced Arbitrage who looks nicely primed to break his maiden at Yarra Valley on Saturday, bound to appreciate a step up to 1950m in what looks to be a very winnable race.

To be ridden by Rhys McLeod, the son of Rip Van Winkle has been unplaced at his first two starts but Michael Moroney says that "this is the first time he has lined up with a bit in his favour and we think he will run well."

"He has improved fitness wise and he has drawn a good enough gate for him to be ridden how we want him to be."

Getting back from wide draws at his first two starts, Arbitrage will be ridden more forward this time and Moroney is looking for an improved showing - "he only has to take his track work to the races to be a winning chance."

Sunday is Sale Cup Day and we take four horses to the meeting with the first of those being Courageous Rock who was so impressive winning his maiden by 2 1/4 lengths at Cranbourne a couple of weeks ago.

"He is up a bit in grade," Moroney conceded, "but his win came in a strong maiden and he has trained on well."

"The even longer trip suits all the more and he looks a really good chance for the double."

Hopefully it is a Ballymore running double with fellow last start winner Trendsetter lining up in the following race.

Another horse who is suited by a rise in distance, the son of Keeper has always shown plenty of potential and Moroney is confident that he is ready to go on with it.

"Last start he ran up to what we have always thought he was capable of and the further he goes the better he will get. We think he will go through his classes pretty quickly and he should again prove hard to beat."

Rhythm To Spare (pictured) takes his place in the day's feature event, the $150,000 Listed Sale Cup and he is going to appreciate a drop in class after contesting the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at his most recent outing.

Getting a bit too far back and wide in that race, Rhythm To Spare was a little disappointing but the promise of a track with the jar out enhances his prospects.

"He has been working the house down at home and he only has to be on his A game to be the one to beat," said Moroney.

Deckhand is our final runner for the weekend and for a horse at his best over longer he has been pleasing us so much in his work that we think he can run boldly first up at the 1400m.

"He has been off the scene after having bone chips removed and he has really pleased us this time in, he has been going really well. It would be no surprise to see him in the thick of things."