TOWN AND COUNTRY SATURDAY

Town and Country for us today with runners at Moonee Valley and Yarra Valley.

Alburq (pictured) is our city runner in race six over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley and Mike Moroney has shrewdly taken advantage of Matthew Cartwright’s claim.

“We’re really happy with him and he’s going great, he looks terrific and his work on Tuesday was excellent” Mike said.

“He jumps from barrier four now after scratchings and after the claim he’s on the minimum.

“Our horse likes the Valley and although it’s a small field, it’s a solid one and if he can repeat his last run from Flemington then I think he should prove hard to beat with even luck in running.”

At Yarra Valley we have Arctic Stone and Iridessa to run with Arctic Stone the first to go in race two, the Maiden Plate over 1209 metres with Rhys McLeod in the saddle.

“She’s trained on extremely well and she pleased me immensely with her gallop on Tuesday,” Mike said.

“It looks a pretty solid maiden for a Saturday but the way our horse looks and has worked I do think she will be hard to beat.”

Iridessa runs in race four over 1968 metres and Michael Poy aboard.

“She’s fitter for today and this looks a race to suit,” Mike said.

“She’s taken good improvement from her two starts and I think she is ready to run well. She’s drawn to get a good run and if that is the case then I expect her to be in the finish.”