GROUP 1 RUNNERS AT CAULFIELD TODAY

Mike Moroney is approaching today’s Caulfield meeting optimistic he has winning chances in the feature race.

Bankers Choice and Buffalo River run in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and while bookmakers have the pair as outsiders Moroney is optimistic both will run well despite wide draws.

“Bankers Choice has always looked as if he’s got any amount of ability,” Moroney said. “I know he’s a backmarker, which makes it hard, but if it goes his way, he’s a good horse I think. He gets back anyway so he can’t use an inside draw and in fact he gets cluttered up, so he’s probably better out in the clear (barrier 18).

This is the first prep we’ve had him all the way through. He came from Stephen Marsh in great order and we had a really good autumn with him

“I’ve been helped by Stephen as I’ve rung him a couple of times about work for him. I thought I had him right first-up but he did warn me that he takes more work than you think so that run should tighten him up.”

Moroney also believes a wide draw is in Buffalo River’s favour. "He has lost his early speed a little bit so he’s going to take his time to come across and lead. If you draw in, you’ve really got to hussle to get there (lead), where he can take his own time from out there."

"If something wants to lead, we’d take a trail, but he certainly hasn’t got the speed he had in his younger days. If he can get the right run he’s not far away and he’s run second in a Group 1 before here at Caulfield.”

Chapada and Emissary (pictured) both run in the Naturalism Stakes over 2000 metres.

“We are just learning a wee bit more about Emissary,” Moroney said. “We haven’t had him a long time. He looks a promising horse and his win was pretty strong at Caulfield last time.

"We are looking at the (Cups) double for him hopefully. He’s proven he gets a mile and a half (2400m) and whether he gets two miles is questionable. Certainly, we’d like to win this one (Naturalism Stakes) to qualify him and then he’s in with a dangerous light weight in the Caulfield Cup. I’d like to think he’s the one to beat.

"He went into that Heatherlie Stakes off a couple of jump-outs and we knew where he was whereas Chapada had three jump out because we had to pour it into him as he’d been out for such a long time.

"I expect them both to improve from their last run but Chapada might improve a little bit more than what Emissary will.”

Japanese Emperor tackles the Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres at his second start after creating a favourable impression winning on debut at Sandown.

“We’ve got a bit of confidence about the horse since what we saw at Sandown,” Moroney said. “We always know he had ability and today we’ll find out how much.

"My question mark is not on his ability. I think he has enough ability to win it. It’s just getting around Caulfield and that last corner gets a few of them but he’s a neat little type of horse and I think there’s a good chance he will get around there.

"Watching him gallop on the track the other morning, he looks quite professional all of a sudden, so take that to race day, he’s a very interesting runner.”