Marwood Tackles Caulfield Guineas

“We are confident that he is one of the better horses we have had for a while,” said Michael Moroney of Caulfield Guineas aspirant Marwood – and everyone at Ballymore is looking forward to seeing how the exciting three-year-old measures up in Group One company on Saturday.

Over a recent set-back that saw him suffer his first defeat, the son of O’Reilly and Ballymore Group One winner Pernod has pleased us with his work in the last couple of weeks.

“We have been really happy with him,” Moroney reported.

Considering the way in which Marwood pulled up for his latest assignment – the Caulfield Guineas Prelude late last month – his effort to finish a close up sixth was full of merit.

Found post-race to be suffering from pharyngitis, Marwood was scoped and found to have “a fair bit of gunk in his throat.”

“After the race he started coughing,” Moroney said, “and Nick Hall was adamant that there was something not right with him.”

Treatment ensued and Marwood has progressed nicely since – “he appears to be over the problem and his work here this week has been very good.”

“Hopefully we will see a different horse out there on Saturday.”

Moroney is delighted with Marwood’s barrier draw (7), noting that “from there he should be able to get himself into a nice position in the first four or five.”

“He has got a bit of tactical speed and he is pretty push button to ride.”

This year’s Guineas is described by Moroney as “an even race” with “no one horse really standing out as yet.”

Hopefully Marwood can be that horse come Saturday!

On Sunday we head to the Cranbourne Cup with Zabisco who strips fitter for recent racing and who has had a few gear changes in attempt to get him back to his best form.

“The track was a bit slippery for him last start,” Moroney said, “and he just wouldn’t go a yard on it.”

“He has been schooled a bit since and we are waiting for him to start to put his hand up.”

Zabisco has drawn nicely in barrier 2 in the Cranbourne Cup with Damien Oliver to ride.