BUSY DAY FOR BALLYMORE STABLES ON SATURDAY

A busy day on our home track on Saturday with four runners at Flemington and one at Rosehill but Mike Moroney has his eye on the weather.

Araldo Junior, Trendsetter, Yesterday’s Songs and Tribal Wisdom are at Flemington while Loyalty Man is the Ballymore stables representative at Rosehill.

Yesterday’s Songs contests the Aurie’s Star Handicap (Gr 3) over the straight 1200m and Moroney gives the seven-year-old a chance in what is a strong race.

“It’s a strong race as you’d expect but he’s well weighted and I thought his last start up the straight was his best,” Moroney said.

“He’s come through the travelling he’s done in terrific order and if he can run to that level I’m pretty confident he won’t be far away.”

Araldo Junior is back at home after winning the Queensland Cup over 3200m at the Sunshine Coast last start and he runs in the second race, the Beverley Hogan Handicap over 2530m.

“We’ve given him a bit of time between runs and I am very happy with the way he’s travelled back,” Moroney said.

“His work on Tuesday was very good and he’s had a quiet time since.

“Stepping back in trip we don’t want to be giving them a start so if Patrick (Moloney) can get him to relax and settle into a rhythm that is the preferred option.

“Some rain on the track will help him a bit and I think he has a real each-way chance.”

Trendsetter will contest race six, the Joan Watson Handicap over 1400m, provided there is some rain to ease the track.

“We’ll run if we get a bit of rain but we’ve waited for a while to run him and don’t want to chance him first-up on a firm track,” Moroney said.

“He’s going well but whatever he does on Saturday he’ll improve on as he hasn’t run for a while but we’ll make a decision in the morning depending on the track.”

Tribal Wisdom runs in the last race of the day at Flemington, the Charles White Handicap over 1000m.

The son of Makfi is first-up and another Moroney is concerned about running on a firm track.

“At this stage he’s running but we are monitoring the weather and the state of the track,” Moroney said.

“It’s a good(3) and they are going to put some water on which will help but at the end of the day if we don’t get the predicted rain it will not be ideal, especially at the start of a preparation.

“If we don’t get the rain I’ll have to give serious thought to him running.

“The horse is stronger and going terrific, couldn’t be happier with him and he’s a more relaxed horse having done that trip to Sydney last prep.”

Loyalty Man runs in the third race at Rosehill, the Premier’s Cup Prelude over 1800m where he will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla.

“He’s drawn nicely in two and it looks a nice race for him,” Moroney said.

“He’s trained on well and I’ve fitted him with a visor with the aim of switching him on a bit more.

“There looks reasonable speed in the race and if he can get a nice sit behind the leaders we’re confident he has at least an each-way chance.”