PROMISING JUMP OUTS AT WERRIBEE THIS MORNING

Mike Moroney came away from a frosty Werribee racecourse this morning with a spring in his step following some pleasing jump outs from his proven performers Tofane and Nerve Not Verve.

Tofane (pictured) went in heat three over 800-metres and ridden by Daniel Stackhouse where her rivals included Group 1 winners Mr Brightside and Callsign Mav as well as Irish Group 3 winner Sinawann. The heat was won by the Simon Zahra-trained Who Shot Suzy which led all the way with Tofane cruising through in fourth place under Daniel Stackhouse, beaten four lengths in a time of 48.76 seconds but not put under any pressure.

In June the four-time Group 1 winner sold for $3.1m at the Magic Millions National Sale to Yulong Investments who returned the rising seven-year-old to Moroney who had some disappointing news for rival trainers.

“I think she’s probably better – I am hoping anyway,” Mike said. “She really looks at her full strength now. I think that every time I see her now and the fact that she has been lightly raced is going to stand by her. She really hit her straps and probably her last preparation she was at her best and so far at least she’s continued on.”

Mike intends to follow the schedule he used last year with Tofane and has pencilled in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 27, the race she finished a close-up third behind Behemoth last year, as her first start. Tofane could then be served by Yulong stallion Written Tycoon before a decision is made about any further runs in the spring.

This morning’s effort was exactly what Mike wanted to see just over a month out from her return.

“I am really happy with her, she has come back into the stable from being up at the sale as if she has never been away, settled straight back into it and is training with zest.” he said. “This is the first of probably three jump outs she’ll have going into the Memsie, which is following the same pattern we did in the autumn when she had three jump outs to get ready. She’s quite forward and Daniel had a bit of trouble pulling her up after the line - she didn’t have have much of a blow at all so her fitness levels are pretty good.”

Nerve Not Verve enjoyed a lucrative autumn, winning the Group 3 Chairmans Handicap at Randwick defeating subsequent Sydney Cup winner Knights Order before returning to Victoria and finishing a creditable second in the Warrnambool Cup last time out on May 5.

Nerve Not Verve finished fourth in heat one over 1100 metres, beaten under two lengths behind the Danny O’Brien-trained Midnight Blue with stablemate Emissary close behind.

“I’m delighted with that, she showed a bit more speed than I thought she might and, like Tofane, I think she is probably now at the height of her powers. I’m really happy with that and she looks set for an interesting preparation.”

Mike was equally enthusiastic about the trial of Emissary, placed in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield two starts back on February 26.

“He was only there for a day out and have an easy trial and as it turned out he was right up behind them through the line full of running so I could not be happier with him,” Mike said.

“He looks terrific and I’m hoping this preparation will see him step up to country cup level and possibly even a bit stronger. He seems to have fully acclimatised now so he can be tested properly in the spring and I think he has some nice races in him.”