Rock Shows Courage

Things did not go exactly to plan for Courageous Rock at Sale on Sunday but the talented import was determined to find the line - and that he did, in particularly game fashion!

With the track not playing to leaders, original plans to be on pace were scrapped but a stop start race saw Courageous Rock into a tricky position mid-race, shuffled back at a vital stage which saw him having to go wide at the turn to get a run.

"We were in a good spot early," reported jockey Steven Arnold, "but then they pulled up to a walk and I ended up in an awkward spot."

"But he rolled into the race nicely and gave a good kick. He tried hard and it was a tough win."

Michael Moroney agreed, noting that "he is better suited when there is speed on so it was a good effort."

"We have always been confident that he is a horse who will go through his classes and we will look for a 2000m race for him next start and work out where we go from there."

Purchased by Paul Moroney at the 2012 Tattersall's October Yearling Sale, Courageous Rock showed good ability during his initial preparations in the United Kingdom and was close up at his first few local outings.

All the mature and better acclimatized for this, his second Australian campaign, Courageous Rock has looked very good winning two in a row and it is onwards and upwards from here!

Speaking of imports, we have another - the classy Araldo Junior (pictured) - primed to contest Wednesday's feature event, the $300,000 Gr.3 Bendigo Cup.

A stunning winner of the Benalla Cup at his most recent outing, the half-brother to our ill-fated galloper Araldo has "trained on well" since.

"He is up a bit in class and distance," Moroney admitted, "but he is up handling both with his European form suggesting that this longer trip is going to suit."

"He has had a bit of time in between runs but he has been going well and we picked out what we thought would be the easiest of the Cups to contest before he heads to the paddock."

Margin Trader also heads to Bendigo on Wednesday, taking his place in the BM70 1600m event with Jake Noonan to ride.

Sound when resuming over 1400m at Echuca, the Tavistock four-year-old strips fitter and is suited at the mile at this stage.

"He will probably be even better over longer but he is working well and we will be disappointed if he doesn't run a good race."