Geelong Cup Day

A busy Geelong Cup Day looms for Ballymore with the stable set to saddle up five runners - all of whom look to be chances in some fairly strong races on a good card.

First up is imported gelding Surface Tension who takes his place in the opening event, a 2400m 0-78 handicap in which he looks particularly well placed.

"We have been really happy with the way he is going," Michael Moroney enthused, "and the 2400m looks ideal for him - he should prove very hard to beat."

A horse who puts himself right in the thick of things, Surface Tension is nicely drawn in barrier one with Lisa Cropp again taking the rider.

Comanche Kid is our next runner, lining up in the 1400m 0-68 handicap, the third event of the day.

Also to be ridden by Lisa Cropp, he has not fared so well with the barrier draw (14) but Moroney is still confident of a bold showing - "so long as he gets a bit of cover and relaxes he can be right there at the finish," he said.

A soft second up winner at Geelong, the son of Danehill Danceer created a good impression with that success - "he impressed me that day," Moroney said.

Talented grey Dead End (pictured), who would be helped if there was any rain about, is to be reunited with Damien Oliver in the fifth race, a 1500m 0-78 handicap.

Beaten but far from disgraced as favourite in the Gold Nugget at Ballarat last start (that race won by subsequent Seymour Cup winner Tiakinui), Dead End was in winning form with Oliver aboard at his previous run at Sandown.

The Deep South is the first of our two feature race runners on Wednesday, the VRC Derby bound gelding to be ridden by Lisa Cropp in the $100,000 Listed Geelong Classic.

To be suited up in distance with the blinkers added, The Deep South - long considered one of our best staying type of three-year-olds - is also nominated for the Gr.3 Vase at Moonee Valley on Saturday but the prospect of a dry track on Wednesday makes Geelong look a suitable option for him.

Wrapping up our day will be Diyaraka, the imported mare one of many chances in what looks to be an even Geelong Cup.

Drawn well in barrier four for Kerrin McEvoy, the good looking grey ran a much improved race at her third local outing, finishing on nicely over 2040m at Moonee Valley last time out.

"It's a strong race but she strips fitter for her recent runs and she is getting to her right distance now," Moroney said, hopeful that the five-year-old can add some Australian blacktype to her Listed third at Saint Cloud this time last year.