Weekend kicks off at Moonee Valley

We take three nice horses to the Moonee Valley meeting on Friday night, hopeful that we can kick the weekend off in winning style.

In the third event, the Programmed Property Services Plate over 1600m, we saddle up two runners - Walloon Region and Goddess Pele.

A well-related son of Danzero, the lightly raced Walloon Region caught the eye with a strong finishing third at his first run since his spring debut.

Suited stepping up from 1400m, the bay is well regarded although he still has plenty of scope for improvement.

"He is a nice big staying horse," Michael Moroney said, adding that "he has trained on well since his good first up run and he strips fitter."

"The question mark on him is how he will get around Moonee Valley being a big horse - and a bit of rain would've helped him."

"He is still a bit immature," he added, "but he is a nice horse in the making."

Also showing promise is Goddess Pele who is having only her second start after an even debut showing at Werribee.

"She might not be as good a chance as Walloon Region," said Moroney, "but she will improve."

"We thought her first run was good enough and she has improved since."

Crimson Lady is our third runner of the night, the talented mare third up in the final event, the John Paraskevas Handicap.

Proving herself stakes class last time in, the daughter of Volksraad has had no luck at all this time in - losing her rider first up at Flemington before "everything went against her" second up at Caulfield.

"The run was still very good," Moroney said, "she struck interference and it will be no surprise to turn it all around and win tonight."

We don't have any metropolitan runners on Saturday but we have three in competition at the Ballarat meeting - kicking off with Think To Myself in the opening event, a 1200m maiden.

An encouraging fifth at his Ballarat debut on January 10, the Wonderful World three-year-old has had a bit of a hiccup since.

"The gap between runs is of some concern," Moroney said, "but we do consider him to be one of our better horses."

Having his third start - and his second this time in - Jaws contests the 1600m maiden.

A full brother to the talented Sharkbite, the son of Redoute's Choice will be a nice horse as he matures.

"Without any doubt he is on the improve," said Moroney. "He has been a slow maturer but he is just starting to turn the corner now."

Deep Forest is our final Saturday runner, the Don Eduardo mare expected to improve third up over 2200m.

"She is in with a chance - her last run was not too bad, she was held up in the run home and she was not disgraced in what is shaping to be a good form race