JOCKEYS SECURED FOR TOFANE AND AKTAU

Having secured a slot for Tofane in the $15m The Everest next month Mike Moroney has now secured a jockey for the Group 1 winner.

This season's All Aged Stakes winner (pictured) resumed with an excellent fourth in a slowly run Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington two weeks ago.

“With the current Covid-19 restrictions in place we had to look for a Sydney jockey and we’ve been fortunate to lock in Tommy Berry,” Moroney said.

“He’s a proven big race jockey and has won feature races in Rupert Legh’s colours before so it's a nice fit.

“The mare has come through her first-up run at Flemington in good order so with a jockey in place we can concentrate on getting her to Sydney in the best possible shape.”

Moroney also has news regarding a Caulfield Cup jockey for Aktau following Jye McNeil’s decision to accept the ride on Orderofthegarter.

Aktau and Orderofthegarter are the only horses to gain ballot free exemption for the $5m Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17, Aktau achieving that winning the $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) in March.

Aktau resumed earlier this month, finishing ninth beaten 3-1/2 lengths in an open handicap over 1700 metres at Flemington on September 12.

“The ownership group is delighted to confirm Daniel Moor to ride Aktau,” Moroney said.

“He’s a natural lightweight riding in good form and had a sit on Aktau for some pacework at Flemington this morning and they got on well together.

“We have the advantage of not having to rush to try to qualify the horse. He’s taken nice improvement from his first-up run and it is great to have sorted his riding arrangements out.”