Michael discusses Monaco Consul on 927

Monaco Consul resumed in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, finishing down the track.

 

Both rider, Corey Brown, and Moroney declared the track was far too hard and the horse felt it to the point he jarred-up quite badly.

 

"We had to give him a few days off, but he's back in the yard now and looks terrific," Moroney said on Sport 927 this morning.

 

Monaco Consul will next run in the Te Rapa Classic in two weeks time, before a further three weeks into the New Zealand Derby.

 

"That then gives us another three weeks before the Rosehill Guineas, then another three into the AJC Derby - that has always been our plan - five runs in the campaign," he added.

 

Monaco Consul burst onto the scene in the Spring, winning the Spring Champion Stakes when a 50-1 chance at just his third race start, then he didn't race again until his barnstorming finish to win the VRC Derby in Melbourne.

 

Because the New Zealand Derby carries a whopping $NZ2 million in prizemoney and the horse is owned in New Zealand, Moroney targeted the race with a deliberate early start to the horse's summer/autumn campaign.

 

by Neale Donnelley, 927.com