BATTLE ZONE IN BRAVE WIN AT GEELONG

Battle Zone showed plenty of courage to overcome a wide draw and score a strong win in the Jack Rabbit Vineyard Handicap over 2418m at Geelong on Wednesday.

Clear into the home straight Battle Zone showed plenty of fight to hold off the challenge of the favourite Bit Of A Lad to score by a long head.

Patrick Moloney was at his best aboard Battle Zone from barrier 16.

“It was a terrific effort from the horse,” Moloney said. “He faced a task from the draw in a stayers race but we got a lovely run into the first corner.

“He’s got good tactical speed and we were able to get across quite comfortably.

“We got a couple of cheap sectionals down the back and I got moving on him as he doesn’t have the sharpest turn of foot.

“He was rock hard fit today, Mike and the team have done a terrific job with him and he’ll stay all day.”

Mike Moroney said he was proud of the way the son of Zabeel raced today in Benchmark64 company.

“I was very proud of him today, I thought it was a very good win,” Moroney said.

“To jump from the outside gate, get softened up by halfway and then hold them off is very hard to do.

“He’s shown us he can get a trip now so we’ll see how he comes out of this and work out where we go next with him.”

Congratulations to winning connections Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, G G Ltd, Dr J T Kennedy, Mrs A C M Kennedy, Wright Racing, Mr S Agisilaou, Mr F Palazzo, Mr N Bidois, Mr G Devonport, Mr G Lygoyris, Mr R Smith