SWORDS DRAWN FOR A COMPETITIVE DAY AT HOME

A pair of runners at home today with Swords Drawn the first top in the second race at Flemington.

Mike Moroney has taken advantage of Celine Gaudrey’s claim to help Swords Drawn in the 2520 metre benchmark race and is anticipating a bold showing.

“We’ve decided to take the claim to help him and Celine is riding in great form so it made sense to us,” Mike said.

“He’s nice and fit and I’m happy with him. A repeat of his last start third in the Warrnambool Cup certainly puts him as one of the main chances today.

“The soft ground will not be an issue and it looks like it will be a truly run race which will suit so he has a few things in his favour.

“All things being equal I expect him to prove hard to beat.”

Last start winner Connecticut is our other runner in race five over 2000 metres with Declan Bates in the saddle.

“He deserved to break through last start and he’s come on again for that run,” Mike said. “Unfortunately he’s drawn the car park but it is what it is and we’ll leave that up to Declan.

“It looks an even sort of contest which you would expect for a Saturday race and I will be keen to see where he fits in. It’s his first try at the distance so that will be a query however, he’s fit and well and he’s there to run well.”