ONWARDS AND UPWARDS FOR AKTAU

The raw potential of Aktau was on display at Caulfield on Saturday with a strong win, his second from three starts in Australia.

Ridden again by Jye McNeil, Aktau took a little while to warm to his task in the home straight but once balanced up proved too strong for the front running Inverloch to score by a long neck in the Keno Classic Handicap (2000m).

A four-year-old son of Teofilo, Aktau was purchased with the big spring Cups races in mind and Moroney said the gelding lacks maturity in both body and mind.

"He's still a work in progress and doing it upside down at times," Moroney said.

"Once he learns what it's all about, the talent is certainly there.

"We'd like to run in the Mornington Cup all going well now which will get him that ticket back here if we can.

"He's still got a lot of improvement in him and it will be good to see him up over his right trip once he learns to relax and go the Australian pace."

The Mornington Cup (2400m) is on March 21 with the winner of that race gaining a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.

Congratulations to Ballymore Stables (Aust) Pty Ltd, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Pulitano Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Mrs C M Cook, Mr F W Cook, Gee Gee Equine Limited, B & C Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Mrs J G Madden, Mr C H Madden, Ms A M Bergin, Mr B Pang, Dr A Pang and Vermont Racing Club Aktau