FEATURE RUNNERS AT FLEMINGTON ON SATURDAY

An early start for us at Flemington with two runners in feature races.

Chapada runs in the Group I Australian Guineas and Top Of The Range is in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality.

It is the second start this preparation for Chapada (pictured), which finished seventh but only beaten three lengths when seventh first-up in the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes over 1400m on February 16.

Damien Oliver will be aboard Chapada, jumping from barrier 15 in the 16-horse field.

“At first when I saw the barrier I thought it was a disaster but once we looked at it I wasn’t so disappointed,” Moroney said.

“The obvious leader in the race has drawn the outside and is outside us so as long as our horse jumps away then I think he can get a trail across and find a nice spot.

“We can’t control that but we can with the horse and we couldn’t be happier with him.

“He’s tightened up a bit more and his work has been excellent and he’s trained on well so with ordinary luck I’m expecting him to be right in the finish.”

Top Of The Range is the first to go in the second race, the Roy Higgins Quality over 2600m with Michael Dee to ride from barrier five after scratchings.

The five-year-old scored over 2500m at Moonee Valley at his last start and has pleased his trainer since.

“He looks terrific, is maintaining his weight and has trained on particularly well,” Moroney said.

“He’s shaping as if he need the extra distance now so the race should suit, even though it is stronger opposition.

“It’s not a big field and provided it’s a truly run race then I expect him to be in the finish.”