A BUSY DAY AND NIGHT ON THURSDAY

A busy day and night for us on Thursday with runners at Geelong and Pakenham, starting with Spanish Peaks in the second race at Geelong.

Spanish Peaks, Flying Mr Davis and King Landon are at Geelong while Whittington Stone and Des Moines are off to Pakenham.

Spanish Peaks is in the Maiden Plate over 1335m with Jordan Childs to ride.

It is the first start this preparation for the son of Zacinto which has had both his starts at Geelong on rain affected ground.

“He’s a horse we’ve given plenty of time to and he’s definitely furnished more,” Mike Moroney said.

“He’s only had the one jumpout coming into this but with everything going on he might as well be running around for prizemoney.

“It might be on the short side for him today but the scratchings have reduced the field so he’s there to run well and be hard to beat.”

Flying Mr Davis on the other hand is having his seventh run this preparation in race three, the benchmark 58 handicap over 2455m with Rhys McLeod to ride.

“He’s holding his condition well, the barrier draw of 10 is not ideal but it is what it is,” Moroney said.

“His last start was the first time he’s missed a place this preparation but it was at Sandown in a stronger class of race.

“Today is not that much easier but he’s as fit as can be and will be thereabouts at the finish provided he can get the trip in heavy ground.”

King Landon returns to action in race nine, the benchmark 58 handicap 1335m is also resuming with Jordan Childs in the saddle.

“He’s another that raced consistently last preparation and his only poor run was his last start when he’d reached the end of his prep,” Moroney said.

“He’s worked up well in preparation for this and is bigger and stronger, it’s unfortunate he’s going to strike a heavy track but he’s ready to go and later in the day drawn wide like he has is probably the best place to be.”

Whittington Stone is the first to go at Pakenham in race two, the 3YO Maiden Plate over 1400m with Jake Noonan to ride and jumping from barrier nine after scratchings.

Whittington Stone has finished runner-up at Sandown at his last two starts and Moroney is expecting another strong effort.

“He’s coping well with the racing and he looks to get his chance here in a race where there does not look a lot of early speed,” Moroney said.

“The form out of his last start looks strong with Zousonic running so well in the Bendigo Guineas and Bayvista chasing home our own Quail Hollow at Sandown yesterday so I’m thinking he should be hard to beat here.”

Des Moines (pictured) is in race seven, the benchmark 64 handicap over 1200m with Michael Dee again to ride and drawn ideally in barrier five.

“She definitely has taken improvement from the two runs this time and her work on Tuesday was excellent," Moroney said.

“The handicapper thinks she’s the best in the race and so do I and I think it will take a good one to beat her if she can reproduce her best.”