A BUSY SATURDAY FOR US IN TWO STATES

A busy day for us on Saturday with runners in two states and we think there are some winning chances amongst them.

We have five runners at Mornington with Aktau and Vengeur Masque in the feature Mornington Cup along with Des Moines, Mirimar and Wham while we have Tofane and Hawker Hurricane at Rosehill.

Des Moines gets the day started in race two at Mornington, the benchmark 70 handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m, and Mike Moroney says has come on a lot for her solid first-up run at Flemington.

“She’s come on nicely and in good order, her gallop on Tuesday has me confident,” Moroney said.

“She’ll need a bit of luck from the barrier but she has won around Mornington and provided she gets a clear run around I do think she’ll be hard to beat.”

Aktau and Vengeur Masque run in the Mornington Cup over 2400m with Jye McNeil aboard Aktau and Damien Thornton on Vengeur Masque.

Aktau (pictured) scored a strong win at Caulfield last time out and the import has pleased his trainer since.

“He’s trained on well and I’m looking forward to getting him out to this trip,” Moroney said.

“I’m expecting the race to be truly run which will suit him and provided he can handle the track then he’s right in it.

“It’s a step up in class for him but he’s improving all the time and I’m expecting him to be right in the finish.”

Vengeur Masque has had two starts this preparation and is ready to run well.

“I thought his last run at Flemington was pretty good really, he just ran out of condition late behind King Of Leogrance and he’s fitter here,” Moroney said.

“He looks one of the front runners and he’s run well at Mornington previously.

“It’s a solid race but he’s a good horse and he has a few things in his favour so he’s there to run well at a big price.”

Mirimar is in race five, the benchmark 90 handicap over 2000m with Jye McNeil to ride from the outside barrier in a field of 10.

“He’s got a bit of a tricky draw but he’s bursting to win after two excellent runs this time in I think,” Moroney said.

“I don’t think we’ve had going this well and although it’s a deep field he’s well in at the weight and provided he doesn’t have to do too much work early to get across than I think he’ll be hard to beat.”

Wham rounds out our day on the peninsula in the last race, the benchmark 78 handicap over 1600m with Ben Melham to ride.

“He disappointed me a little last start after two good wins however, it was a slowly run race and he’s a horse that is best suited by a fast pace all the way,” Moroney said.

“He wasn’t beaten that far last time and apart from running at the track for the first time then he should be in the finish.”

In Sydney Tofane runs in the Group 1 Galaxy over 1100m with Michael Dee to ride from barrier five.

The daughter of Ocean Park ran an excellent race last time out in the Newmarket Handicap without much luck and Moroney is confident can run well in this her first trip to Sydney.

“She’s drawn a lovely barrier which is a help and the track should be improved by late in the day,” Moroney said.

“She’s travelled up there and with the weight scale then I think she’s right in this race - she’s improved fitness wise and provided she gets a clear run then I’m expecting her to be hard to beat.”

Hawker Hurricane runs in race one, the Listed Darby Munro Stakes over 1200m.

“He ran terrific last start really - I was concerned he was probably a run short and that’s how it turned out,” Moroney said.

“He’s improved a lot for that and his work here on Tuesday before travelling up was excellent with Tofane.

“The scratchings are certainly a help and from barrier four he should get a lovely run so all things being equal I feel he has an excellent chance.”