DERBY GLORY AWAITS CHAPADA

A big day for the stable with three runners in three states, highlighted by Chapada in the South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

Chapada (pictured) will jump from barrier 11 under William Pike and has pleased Mike Moroney since returning to Melbourne after his Sydney campaign.

“The track is now rated soft and he handled it fine at Rosehill but didn’t in the Derby at Randwick so we’re taking the going on trust,” Moroney said.

“We’ve always thought he got through it ok but he struggled on it at Randwick.”

It will be the fifth start this preparation for Chapada.

“He’s in terrific order and has an outstanding demeanour - he handles anything you throw at him, he eats and is a no fuss horse,” Moroney said.

“I think he’s the best horse in the race and this does look his chance to win a good race.”

She’s A Thief runs in race four, the Queensland Day Stakes over 1350m at Doomben where the track is a good (4), jumping from barrier two under Jake Bayliss.

“She’s a good filly which has been racing well in New Zealand and has arrived in Queensland in good order,” Moroney said.

“Under the conditions she gets in nicely on the minimum weight but it does look a strong race which you would expect.

“She gets onto a firmer surface after finding soft tracks at her last two starts in New Zealand and with luck in running from barrier two I expect her to give a good showing.”

Bill The Bee steps up in class at Caulfield when he runs in race three, the Rod Fenwick 3YO Handicap over 1600m with Nikita Beriman to ride from barrier seven after scratchings.

The son of So You Think is racing consistently and finished third last start over 1600m at Ballarat.

“Caulfield doesn’t seem to have got the rain most places received yesterday and it’s a soft five which is a query with him,” Moroney said.

“He ran well on a soft track at Moe last year so we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and most of the opposition look in the same boat.

“From the draw he shapes as though he could settle on the lead and that will give him a chance. His work on Tuesday was excellent and while this is his toughest test I do think he can run a nice race.”