Ballarat Cup Day

No runners on Saturday for Ballymore but Sunday is a busy day at Ballarat with five runners.

Kicking off our day is When My Baby who lines up in the second event, a 1600m maiden for fillies and mares.

To be ridden by Dwayne Dunn, the three-year-old will appreciate both a drop back in distance and in class having contested the Gr.2 Wakeful Stakes at her most recent outing.

"She loomed up half way down the straight," Michael Moroney said, "but she didn't quite see it out. Back to the mile she should break her maiden pretty quickly."

Marie de Guise is our next Ballarat run, due to resume in the fifth race, a 1400m ratings contest for fillies in mares.

"She will find the 1400m too short," Moroney said of the imported mare who has shown promise over 2400m.

Also a horse with good staying ability is Balmoral who will be one of the favourites in the 2200m race worth $50,000.

"He has trained on well since his last run at Flemington," Moroney reported. "He was on the back-up there and we have kept him a little fresh since."

Another staying type, Hiphopotoamus is second up in the seventh race over a mile and is likely to be improved by the run as he heads towards his main aim, the Bagot Handicap.

"The 1600m is probably too short for him but he has got a touch of class."

Tinseltown (pictured) is our feature runner of the day, the tough competitor taking his place in the $150,000 Listed Ballarat Cup with Lisa Cropp to ride.

A horse who runs into his fair share of bad luck, Tinseltown did run nicely at Flemington last time out and a step up in distance suits.

"We are really happy with him," Moroney said, "he just needs that bit of luck. But he is in nicely at the weights and a bit of rain would help."

We also send Renegade Arrow to Echuca on Sunday, the promising four-year-old coming off a 4.3 length maiden victory at Sale - and he has trained on well since.

"The form around him has stood up and he should prove hard to beat again," Moroney said - "he is an exciting horse."