Tinseltown favourite for Queensland Cup

Talented stayer Tinseltown has pulled up well from his gutsy and somewhat unlucky second in last weekend’s Listed Caloundra Cup and looks set to start a short priced favourite in this Saturday’s $150,000 Listed Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm.

Always wide and doing it tough last Saturday, Tinseltown still managed to run Ironstein to a neck, conceding him 3kg. He again has his fair share of weight – 58kg, and another tricky gate – the outside of 15 – but his work this week has been outstanding.

“The weight and the barrier are concerns,” Michael Moroney conceded, “but I think he will get through both of those.”

“He has had only two runs at the 3200m and he is a stronger horse now – I am confident he will run out the trip.”

“He has worked like a winner this week,” Moroney continued, “he is flying at the moment. I think he will prove very, very hard to beat.”

Being a son of Pentire, Tinseltown has a two miler pedigree – as does Prix du Sang who also takes her place in the Queensland Cup.

The daughter of a Desert King (sire of Makybe Diva) mare, the Red Ransom four-year-old was undoubtedly disappointing in the Caloundra Cup but has pulled up well.

“We haven’t been able to work out why she ran so badly,” Moroney said, “but we have tinkled with her gear a bit – blinkers off and a tongue tie on – and hopefully she will run well this time.”

Moroney is confident that Prix du Sang will run out the trip, recalling her fast finishing fourth in last year’s Queensland Derby in which subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Shocking was second.

“And she is a stronger horse now.”

Also in Queensland on Saturday we have the in-form Isabelle Lass contesting a 2200m Class 2 event at the Gold Coast.

“She comes off a really good win at the Sunshine Coast and she has trained on very, very well. She should go close to winning again.”

Two runners at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday – Itimio and Golden Jaguar avoiding Melbourne’s heavy winter tracks.

“They are both having their first go around the right hand way,” Moroney said, “and I would’ve preferred them to have drawn a bit better.”

“Golden Jaguar probably wants it a bit longer but Itimio has been knocking on the door.”

The stable also saddles up two Flemington runners on Saturday – the honest Abitofado fresh for the Mittys Rising Star Final.

“He has had a bit of a busman’s holiday,” Moroney joked – the five-year-old kept in light work on a water-walker during a short break.

“He is always competitive in these sorts of races and he ran well in a recent Flemington jump-out. He should run well.”

Shylock’s Daughter lines up in the Banjo Paterson Series Final, taking on the males after proving too strong in mares grade at Moonee Valley last start.

Stepping up to 2500m for the first time, the daughter of Generous has won over 2300m and was, Moroney recalls “quite impressive that day.”

“She just needs a bit of cover from that gate (seven) but it will be interesting to see how she goes against the boys.”