Queensland via Sandown

Ballymore heads to Sandown with three runners on Wednesday and will be busy towards to end of the day which those horses all running in the final two races on the card.

Taking his place in the seventh event, the Melbourne Truck Centre Handicap is third up over 1800m and he looks nicely primed for the rise in distance.

"This is the first time this preparation we have taken him to the races 100% at his best," Michael Moroney said.

"He has had a bit of racing to get him fit and he should prove hard to beat."

Moroney also likes the chances of the two horses contesting the final race, the Le Pines Funerals Handicap over 1600m - and he hopes the pair, Murcielaga and Rhythm To Spare can race in good enough form to justify a trip north for the Queensland Derby.

"We have been threatening Murcielaga with the knife and when you do that they usally win!" Moroney laughed.

"Hopefully he can get a clear run at them as he has real ability and he had excuses last time out."

Down the track at Caulfield where, after going out hard, the leaders fell back on him, Murcielaga is a better horse than his form suggests on paper.

An impressive last start Bendigo maiden winner, Rhythm To Spare has pleased the stable with his progress since and we are hoping he can win and "get the prize money he needs to get a run in the Derby."

"The form around him both here and New Zealand has stood up well," said Moroney, adding that the son of Pins is "a relaly nice horse."

"We were trying to get him ready for the New Zealand Derby but he went shin-sore," he said.

We saddle up another three nice horses at the Seymour meeting on Thursday, kicking off with Richard The in the 1200m maiden.

A game first up third at Sale having run last at debut last spring, the Lion Heart gelding is, Moroney says, "on the improve."

"He still has a bit to learn but he was much better at his second start and fitter again now - he should prove hard to beat."

Our other two Seymour runners - Devonshire Duke and Point Made - both contest the Peter Neylan Memorial Country Showcase over a mile and they look to be two nice chances.

"They have both drawn well and they both ran good races last time out."

"We also have Devonshire Duke in a race at Rosehill on Saturday but we will go with the footing (on the firm side) suits him best."

"Point Made has a good second up record and it is nice to be going into the race with two such strong prospects."

We also have a runner at Wyong on Thursday with Pastorale Lass lining up in the 2100m maiden.

Another horse on trial for a trip to Queensland, she looks ready for a rise in distance on the back of good recent runs over 1400m and 1600m.