100 Looms!

The end of the season is rapidly approaching and Ballymore Stables is nearing a milestone... our Australian and New Zealand arms combining to win 96 races this season. Let's hope we make it to the 100 in the next couple of weeks!

Amongst our Australian runners this weekend we look to have a decent chance of getting closer to that magic number with four nice horses heading to the Flemington meeting.

The first of which is Rhythm To Spare who contests the second race of a strong card, the 1800m Henry Bolte Handicap.

Not racing beyond a mile since he contested the 2013 Queensland Derby won by Hawkspur, Rhythm To Spare is a dual stakes winner at 1600m but has of late been racing as though looking for more ground.

A game last start fifth in the Winter Championship Final, he has only five rivals on Saturday with Jake Bayliss to take the ride... and Michael Moroney is confident that he can prove competitive.

"He was Group placed over 2200m as a three-year-old and not many of his rivals have form over a bit of distance."

"It is a similar field to last time with a few that finished in front of him but not by large margins."

Exciting filly Daniela Rosa (pictured) is also up in distance, tackling the 1800m of the Rising Stars Final.

It is, says Moroney, a good opportunity to test the daughter of Dane Shadow over further before the spring carnival.

"I will give us an idea at what sort of races we can aim her at," he said.

Impressive taking out the Rivette Series Final two weeks ago, Daniela Rosa has pleased us with her progress since.

"We have been really happy with her and she should again prove hard to beat," said Moroney.

Meanwhile we are expecting improvement from Araldo Junior who, after taking up his usual front running role at Flemington two weeks ago, tired in the run home to finish fifth in the Banjo Paterson Series Final.

Before that a dominant winner at the same distance as Saturday's race (2500m), Araldo Junior had four weeks between those runs whereas this time just the two.

"I think we can be forgiving of that last run and we think he can turn it right around."

Margin Trader is the fourth of our Flemington runners and whilst he has been pleasing us with his work this time in the 1600m of the Flemington Event Staff Handicap is likely to prove too short second up.

"The big track will suit but we expect him to be striking form when he gets up to his right distances."

Meanwhile we also have a good chance at the Canterbury meeting with Fortune Patch up in class but down in weight in the TAB Handicap.

After the claim of Andrew Adkins coming into the race with just 51kg, the son of Not A Single Doubt has been in excellent form with another bold showing expected.

"With the light weight and the good draw he can finish in the thick of things," said Moroney.

Another horse expected to run well is Barnsley who lines up in a 1113m BM64 event at Moe on Sunday.

Racing wide from an outside gate at his most recent outing, the chestnut had however looked good winning at his previous Sale outing and he has bounced back nicely with a little freshen.

"He has drawn nicely and it looks a nice race for him," Moroney said.