Crimson Lady resumes at Flemington

Ballymore takes two runners to two meetings this weekend - Lordoftheparrots and Crimson Lady heading to Flemington on Saturday whilst Malan and Chilean Plume will be in competition at Ballarat on Sunday.

Lining up in the sixth event at Headquarters - the Craftsman Handicap, Lordoftheparrots (pictured) is having his second run back from a spell having performed well when resuming at Caulfield on Boxing Day.

On that occasion boxing on well to finish fifth over 1400m, Lordoftheparrots will appreciate a step up to 1720m - the main concern his horror barrier draw; 18 of 18!

"He is going really well," Michael Moroney reported, "but it is a tricky gate and he will need a lot of luck."

Classy mare Crimson Lady, who contests the final event - the Domain Handicap - has also fared badly in the barrier draw (16 of 17) but she has been pleasing us with her progress this time in.

"She had a brief spring campaign," Moroney recalled, "but I wasn't happy with her so I put her back out. But this time in she looks well and has been working nicely."

First up last time in winning a maiden at Pakenham, Crimson Lady was twice stakes placed during that campaign - "and a bit unlucky not to win one."

"She too will need luck from her gate but if they go hard in front she will get her chance."

The first of our two Ballarat runners is the exciting Malan, a horse we have always held in high regard.

"He is probably our best three-year-old sprinter along with Octavia," said Moroney of the lightly raced son of Not A Single Doubt.

"He got beaten by Royal Haunt last start and that horse won pretty easily again at Sale on Thursday - he looks like he may be Group class which our horse may be too."

"He is another of our's to have drawn badly (13) this weekend but we expect him to find winning form quickly - it will take a pretty good maiden to beat him."

Chilean Plume, who lines up in the 1600m Showcase, is another hosre with a good chance.

"He has been going terrifically well at home," Moroney said, "and he is starting to live up to his pedigree in that he is looking for the mile."

"I had my doubts early that he would run the trip but he really looks as though he is looking for it now and it will be interesting to see how he goes."