Tinseltown to back up on Saturday

By Glenn Davis
BRISBANE, July 7 AAP - Mike Moroney has had a change of heart with Caloundra Cup runner-up Tinseltown who is now likely to back-up in the Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.
Moroney was set to pull up stumps to prepare for the summer races in his homeland of New Zealand with Tinseltown following the gelding's second to Ironstein in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) last Saturday.
Moroney saddled up three runners in the Caloundra Cup with stablemates Calatrava finishing eighth and Prix Du Sang 15th, and all three are likely to clash again in the Saturday's 3200-metre feature.
"I was going to spell Tinseltown and look at our summer races back home but the owners are keen to try him over two miles again," Moroney said.
"It's only another week so he'll still have plenty of time to have a decent break before the summer races.
"He's pulled well after the Caloundra Cup and has eaten everything given him."
Stathi Katsidis has been engaged for Tinseltown with last-start rider Damien Oliver to ride Nicconi in the Group One July Cup at Newmarket in England.
"Damien was keen to ride him but he can't get back from England in time," Moroney said.
"Ollie said his run in the Caloundra Cup was quite good. He tried to get in but he couldn't and was caught three wide."
Tinseltown has failed at his only two starts over 3200 metres but Moroney feels the son of Pentire is more mature now to cope with the trip.
"He's only had two runs over 3200 metres but he's much stronger now," he said.
Both failures came in the past two Group One Auckland Cups at Ellerslie when Tinseltown finished seventh to Spin Around last year and 11th to Zavite in March this year.
Tinseltown received topweight of 58 kilograms in the Queensland Cup while Calatrava and Prix Du Sang have the minimum of 53 kilograms.
Moroney was pleased with Calatrava's effort to finish eighth, six lengths from Ironstein in the Caloundra Cup, but was disappointed with Prix Du Sang's 15th, almost 16 lengths away.
"I was disappointed with Prix Du Sang's run and I might take the blinkers off her for the Queensland Cup," he said.
"Calatrava is running at this stage. She's untried at the distance but she gives the impression she'll handle the trip."
Neither Prix Du Sang, who finished a close fourth to Court Ruler in last year's Group One Queensland Derby (2400m) on a wet Eagle Farm track, nor Calatrava have raced over 3200 metres.
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