A BUSY WEDNESDAY FOR US

A busy Wednesday at home for us with five runners at Flemington.

Poland is the first to go in race three, the Benchmark 64 3YO Handicap over 1400m with Jordan Childs riding and to jump from barrier two.

Poland has been placed in both his starts to date and Mike Moroney has made a gear change for today’s race.

“We’ve put blinkers on him to help him focus - I’m happy with him but he needs to concentrate.

“He’s got nice ability and he’ll be better in the autumn I think but today will be a guide for us. He’s drawn to get a lovely run and if he can put it all together then I think he will be hard to beat.

“It’s a handy race as you would expect, we’d like to get him to the Caulfield Guineas so he will have to be winning today for us to do that.”

We have three runners in race four, the Kennedy Oaks Trial over 1800m in Proud Mary, Star Of Eden and Yatton.

Proud Mary has drawn barrier three with Daniel Stackhouse to ride. The daughter of Hinchinbrook made up ground in the home straight when fourth on debut at Geelong over 1300m.

“I’m happy stepping her up in trip, she’s trained on well from her first start,” Moroney said.

“I’m not so sure about how much speed there is in the race but she’s drawn nicely and I’m sure she can run well despite it only being her second start.”

Billy Egan is riding Star Of Eden who finished second in the same Geelong race as Proud Mary after racing on the speed.

“She’s also done well off her first start and it does look an even sort of race,” Moroney said.

“I thought she went terrific in her first start and she has improved since - I don’t think she needs to improve that much to be hard to beat.

“Although she is by Wandjina her female family is stamina and we will find out more today.”

Jye McNeil is aboard Yatton who was closing late when fourth over 1600m at Sandown last time out on September 9.

“We couldn’t be happier with her and her last piece of work was excellent,” Moroney.

“I think the penny is beginning to drop with her and she’s always shaped like she will appreciate a trip. I’m pretty confident she can show she is worthy of pushing on to the Oaks today.”

Tour Of Duty is our other runner in race six, the Victoria Derby Trial over 1800m.

It is the third start this preparation for the son of Hinchinbrook which finished sixth at Geelong over 1400m last time out.

“He still does a little bit wrong in his races but he is beginning to get the hang of things and I think the distance of today will be the making of him,” Moroney said.

“He keeps on improving and the plan is to let him balance up and then see if he can finish off.”