Murcielaga & African Pulse kick off

Racing Victoria, Ben Asgari... Mike Moroney will saddle up two horses resuming from injury at Caulfield on Saturday that he hopes can measure up in a higher grade later this preparation.

As well as the lightly raced three-year-old Murcielaga who will kick off his campaign in the $80,000 Hillier’s Delectable Chocolates Noel Rundle Handicap (1400m), Moroney will also run first-up specialist African Pulse who resumes in the $80,000 Bert Bryant Handicap (1000m).

Unbeaten in three previous first up runs, with four wins and a photo-finish second placing from five runs over the 1000 metres, Moroney said injury cut short African Pulse’s Spring campaign after a brilliant first up win at Flemington.

“He hurt himself in the stable and just about severed his hind tendon. He was actually pretty lucky, we took him up to the Werribee Veterinary Hospital and he spent a bit of time there,” Moroney said.

“Luckily the tendon held together and he had a long break to get over it all.

“He’s still a stallion so he’s a little bit thicker set this preparation but his work and jumpouts have been encouraging.

Set to carry only 52.5kgs after the 3kg claim for in-form apprentice Tom Sadler, Moroney said he doubts they will opt to restrain African Pulse’s natural early speed from the inside barrier.

“He’s versatile and can sit off them if he needed but I doubt there’s anything in Australia that could head him off early if he wanted to go forward,” he said.

“From the inside gate I’d imagine if he flew the gates he’d be up on the speed.”

A three length winner on debut at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival last year, Moroney said he had high hopes for lightly-raced son of Testa Rossa, Murcielaga, before injury cut short his Spring campaign.

“We thought he was our best three-year-old in the Spring and we only got the one run into him over a shorter trip than what we think he is capable of and then he hurt himself which cost him a long time out,” he said.

“We’ll just take it one run at a time with him but all going well we’d like to get to Queensland.”

Aside from African Pulse and Murcielaga, Moroney will also start Zabisco and multiple Group 1 winner Wall Street in the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) as well as Muirfield in the Jack Elliot Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday.