FIVE RUNNERS AT THREE VENUES FOR US ON SATURDAY

A busy day for us with runners at three venues in two states but with Vengeur Masque staying home with the heavy track in Sydney.

The scratching of Vengeur masque due to the state of the track leaves Sound (pictured) as our only runner in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill is Sound, which will be ridden by Damian Lane.

It is the second start this preparation for the import and Mike Moroney said he is particularly pleased with the way the stallion has trained.

“I know it doesn’t look good on paper but I was happy with his Australian Cup run,” Moroney said. “He got back and it was hard to make ground but the way he ran through the last 200m really pleased me.

“He’s trained on really well since and his last piece of work at Flemington was the best he has done.

“His form at 2400m is excellent, the query is the track. He has won in soft ground but hasn’r taced on anything worse so we will just have to see.

“He’ll be a big price but if he runs up to his trackwork than I do think he will run a good race.”

At Bendigo we have Eagle Ridge in race one, Bishop Rock in race three and Wham in race eight, the Bendigo Guineas.

Scratchings mean Eagle Ridge is in the field for the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1300m where he will be ridden by Nikita Beriman and jump from barrier eight.

Eagle Ridge finished strongly to score first-up over 1200m at Cranbourne at Benchmark 64 level and Moroney is anticipating another good performance in this stronger class.

“He was in a weaker race at Sale on Sunday but had drawn wide and this race was the one we had marked for him and now he’s gained a start,” Moroney said.

“The bonuses make it a particularly attractive race if he can win it.

“I’m happy with him and he’s done well since the win, in fact I’d say he has improved so provided he can get some luck from the awkward draw I’m expecting him to run well again.”

Bishop Rock is in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush over 1000m for two-year-olds with Jordan Childs riding from barrier six.

The son of Fastnet Rock ran well last start when finishing third at Moonee Valley, only run down inside the final 100m.

“The prizemoney is great but it has attracted a strong field as you would expect,” Moroney said.

“We haven’t done a lot with him since his last start but he’s well. It’s a deep race but I do think he will be competitive and he’ll go forward and put himself in the race.”

Wham rounds out our runners at Bendigo in the Guineas for three-year-olds over 1600m with Jordan Childs to ride from barrier nine.

The son of Fiorente resumed with a win over 1212m at Sale on March 15 but Moroney acknowledges Saturday’s race will be considerably harder.

“It’s a very strong race and a definite rise in class for him,” Moroney said. “However, he’s trained on extra well and I’m really happy with him.

“I can’t fault him going into the race and he’s improved a lot in his attitude. This race will give us a guide on where he sits in the order of things but he’s certainly there to run well.”

Shy One heads to Wodonga for race three, the Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate over 1200m.

It is the first start for the three-year-old daughter of Sepoy which will be ridden by Jacob Rule and jump from barrier three in the field of 13.

“It’s a difficult race to assess but she’s certainly fit enough,” Moroney said. “The draw is a plus and she has good gate speed so she should be able to put herself there and give herself a chance.

“I think she will run well, it’s just difficult to assess the other unraced horses in the field to be confident.”