Busy weekend ahead for Ballymore

A very busy weekend ahead for Ballymore – four runners at Flemington on Saturday and a Hollindale Stakes contender at the Gold Coast and six due to take their place at Morphettville on Sunday.

Our day at Flemington kicks off with promising three-year-old Noble Park who lines up in the third event, the Schweppes Plate over 2000m. Having only his fourth start, he has looked good winning two of his first three and we’ve always had a good opinion of the well related son of Pins.

“He has a bit of a tricky draw,” Michael Moroney conceded, “but he has trained on very well from his Sandown win and we think he is a pretty smart young horse.”

Tough stayer Hiphopopotamus had a slight set-back prior to his last run over 2600m at Flemington and he is in much better order leading into the 2800m Cleanevent Handicap.

“He is a long way fitter,” Moroney said, “There are some nice promising young stayers in the race but he should run a much improved race.”

Stripping fitter for her two runs back from a spell, Marheta is shaping nicely at home, ready to take on the males in the AGL Energy Trophy – her main problem another outside gate.

“We are really happy with the way she is looking and working but she has another horror draw and we don’t want to push her forward and undo all the work we’ve done getting her to settle. She just needs a bit of luck.”

Up-and-coming four-year-old Lordoftheparrots is the fourth of our Flemington runners, looking to be a leading contender in the Peter Rowland Catering Handicap.

A last start runaway winner of the Stawell Cup over the same trip, the gelding has pleased us since.

“He has drawn nicely and he has trained on really well. He is up a bit in class but I think he is up to it,” Moroney said – “he should prove hard to beat.”

Same goes for import Glass Harmonium who makes his Australian debut in the $300,000 Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes at the Gold Coast.

Unusually for a UK galloper, the attractive grey is yet to race on rain affected going but he looked good winning a recent Hawkesbury trial on a heavy track and he has pleased us with his work.

“He will improve on whatever he shows but we think we’ve done enough with him and he is a quality horse.”

Another busy day on Sunday with seven of our team contesting stakes races in Adelaide. Four of those – the talented mares Bronislava, Platinum Passion, Fairfield Flame and Our Tigress – all line up in the $100,000 Listed Centaurea Stakes.

“Bronislava was a bit disappointing last start but she is already stakes placed so we are happy to give her another crack at black type.”

“Platinum Passion is crying out for the 2000m and this looks a really nice race for her.”

“On their day there is not much between her and Fairfield Flame but that mare has taken a bit of work and racing to get fit this time in. She is starting to look ready though and we will be disappointed if she doesn’t show something.”

“Any rain about would help Our Tigress as the 2000m is as far as she wants. But the good thing about her is that she puts herself right up on the pace and tries really hard.”

“It would be lovely if we could get some black type for all four of these mares on Sunday.”

Also heading to Morphettville is Skiddaw Peak who steps up to a mile in the $200,000 Gr.3 R.A Lee Stakes.

“He just got held up at a vital stage last time,” Moroney said, adding that the handsome chestnut “has a great record at the 1600m.”

Ridden further back than usual last start, Stratocracy could not have been more impressive racing away with a 2000m event at Ballarat and he will again be ridden cold from an outside gate in the $350,000 Gr.1 South Australian Derby.

“He has trained on really well and this does not look an especially strong Derby,” Moroney said.