Drunken Sailor highlights Easter weekend

Group One racing in Sydney on Saturday and Ballymore will be there with tough stayer Drunken Sailor taking his place in the $2.25 million BMW.

Pleasing us with his progress since a game second in the Adelaide Cup, the imported seven-year-old will again be ridden by Damien Oliver - to jump from the inside barrier.

A Gr.3 winner over the 2400m at Goodwood, Drunken Sailor is, said Michael Moroney "yet to run a bad race for us" and he came to Australia with a reputation of the BMW distance being his best.

"We have put the blinkers back on him to sharpen him up for weight-for-age," Moroney said, adding that they would be back on for the Sydney Cup.

"There isn't a huge difference in the overseas form between him and Manighar," he said.

There is feature racing in Melbourne on Saturday also and Ballymore will be cheering on consistent campaigner Viking Hero in the $125,000 Gr.3 Easter Cup.

Close up (in the first four) at all four runs this campaign, the son of Elvstroem comes off an honest last start third in the Pakenham Cup where he was ridden by Nick Hall who again takes the ride.

"We are really happy with him," Moroney said, "he is consistent and well in at the weights - he looks to be a very good chance."

Easter Monday is a busier day for the stable with three runners at Caulfield - kicking off with Maythehorsebemagic in the third event, the JRA Handicap.

A versatile galloper with good form on the flat and over the jumps, the son of Zabeel and the high class mare Arletty is having his first start for the stable with Dwayne Dunn to ride.

"He has settled in well," Moroney said, "and should run a good race."

Promising stayer Balmoral resumes in the sixth race, the BMW Handicap. Having his first run since the spring, the lightly raced five-year-old has always been well regarded for the stable and has come up well.

"We have given him time and this should be his year," Moroney said.

"I think he is a cheeky chance first up, he has become really strong now."

Lordoftheparrots is our final Easter weekend runner, the five-year-old second up in The Age Handicap.

A little disappointing when resuming over 1300m at Bendigo, he did however improve with racing last time in and the step up to 1800m suits the gelding who will be ridden for the first time by Jamie Mott.

"We can't fault him going into this race," Moroney said, adding that at other times he has had reservations in race lead-ups, "so hopefully he will turn his form around."