HOLDING OUR NERVE ACROSS TWO STATES TODAY

Another two-state weekend for us with runners at Sandown and Eagle Farm where Nerve Not Verve tackles the Brisbane Cup.

Mike Moroney has engaged leading New Zealand jockey Michael McNab to partner Nerve Not Verve, who now races in the Cambridge Stud livery.

“We are honoured Brendan and Jo Lindsay have kept Nerve Not Verve with us after purchasing her at the Gold Coast and I’m sure she will be a great asset to their breeding enterprise in the future,” Mike said.

“In the meantime there are races to be run and she comes into today’s race in good form.

“I thought her last start was more than respectable, drawn wide and having to go back over 2000 metres but she made good ground in the run home and will be better suited today at Eagle Farm.

“She’s had no luck with the draw again but we’ll leave that up to Michael and with ordinary luck I think she should be in the finish.”

Bankers Choice is our other runner in Brisbane in the $1.2m Q22, better known as the P J O’Shea Stakes with John Allen aboard.

“He’s struck a hot field as you would expect for a million dollar race with Group 1 and Classic winners engaged at weight-for-age,” Mike said.

“He possibly raced a bit close last start in the Doomben Cup and wasn’t able to finish it off.

“It’s a strong race and hard to be confident but he’s fit and well and sure will give a good account of himself.”

Closer to home at Sandown we have Let’s Say Grace, Elkington Road and Milford running with last start winner Let’s Say Grace the first to go in the fourth race.

“I thought she was good winning first-up at Cranbourne and the little step up in distance here will not be a worry,” Mike said.

“She’s up in class today but she’s done well since, has drawn to advantage and Billy Egan retains the ride.

“There is no reason why she can’t win again and make it a hat trick with a bit of luck.”

Elkington Road continues his preparation in the seventh race with Wiremu Pinn in the saddle.

“He’s been up a while but he continues to eat and work well,” Mike said.

“We’re lucky to get Wiremu on and reduce his weight to 57 kilos which means he carries less than he did winning here last start so all things being equal I’m expecting him to be in the finish again.”

Milford rounds out our day in the last race over 1800 metres under Patrick Moloney.

“I wasn’t really surprised to see him run so well first-up as he had been training well and he has continued to do so,” Mike said.

“He’s got his share of weight but the handicapper thinks he’s the best horse in the race - there are a couple of live chances he will have to concede a fair bit of weight to however, he looks terrific, is in good order and there is no reason why he cannot run a cheeky race at big odds.”