Mornington & Ballarat this weekend

No city runners this weekend but a busy time at the provincials with two our our team going around at Mornington on Saturday and four at Ballarat on Sunday.

First cab of the rank is debutant Explain Yourself, a daughter of Desert King bred and raced by new stable client Gary Boyle - and we hope our relationship begins well!

Immature when she first arrived at the stables, the bay at four has blossomed into a nice type and Michael Moroney is looking forward to seeing how she fares.

"Her work has just kept improving," he said, "and she has done better at each jump-out she's had."

Jumping from barrier 3 in the second race at Mornington, the Wise Employment Maiden, Explain Yourself will be ridden by the in-form Lisa Cropp.

Takeonefortheteam is our other Mornington runner - drawing barrier ten in the eighth race, the Wise Employment Class 1.

To be ridden by Rhys McLeod, the four-year-old has shown good ability in his first few campaigns - sparingly raced and given time to mature.

"His first up form is good," Moroney noted, "and he is a horse we have always had a bit of an opinion of. He has had a couple of jump-outs and is quite foward for this - he should prove hard to beat."

Ballarat Cup Day is a busy one for us, kicking off with Unbendable in the second race, a 1600m maiden,

Jumping from barrier 9 with Mark Zahra to ride, the four-year-old ran very nicely firs tup from a spell and Moroney has been pleased with his progress this campaign.

"He is definitely a lot stronger this time in," he said.

Stormy Hussey, who races in the fillies & mares 1400m handicap, was a little disappointing first up but there is precedence in her form for a turnaround - an unplaced fresh run last spring followed by a win.

"She did have excuses when resuming," Moroney said, "and on her best form we expect her to be right in this."

Glen Boss rides from barrier ten.

Catching the eye with a strong late finish at Bendigo last start, Nothingbuthetruth contests the 2200m handicap - Craig Newitt to ride from barrier 9.

"He ran a much better race last start," Moroney said. "We have had him on the water walker for a bit of a freshen-up since and he is going well."

St Ives (pictured) is our final weekend runner, due to contest the tenth race on the card - Glen Boss sticking with him after his gutsy last start Flemington second.

"He ran a great race there," Moroney said, "and once he strikes form he usually holds it. He has trained on well and should prove hard to beat."