Voleuse De Coeurs settles in well

Michael Moroney is excited about the prospects of recent stable addition Voleuse De Coeurs (pictured) who is high in the markets for the Melbourne Cup.

Arriving in Australia on Saturday, the lightly raced five-year-old who was purchased recently by Eliza Park International, has settled in nicely at Werribee.

“She has not left a skerrick of food since she got here,” Moroney reported on Tuesday afternoon – having been delighted with his first sighting of her.

“She is a lovely mare,” he enthused, adding that she has a definite touch of “quality” about her.

Not travelling the best of the Cup bound horses on the plane – being the youngest and least experienced of them – Voleuse De Coeurs did however bounce back quickly and Moroney is looking forward to stepping up her work soon.

Cantering over a mile and a quarter on Tuesday morning, Voleuse De Coeurs looked in great shape and James McDonald will be aboard for her first gallop enroute to partnering her in the Melbourne Cup.

Meanwhile Ballymore saddles up four runners over the next couple of starts – kicking off with Spitfire Lady, our sole Geelong Cup Day runner.

Contesting the $100,000 Sprint, the four-year-old ran a great race first up at Mornington and has pleased us with her progress since.

“She has drawn a pretty tricky gate (15),” Moroney noted, “but with the rain about by that time of the day (race eight) being out there might not be such a bad thing.”

Whilst she has a heavy track failure on her record, Spitfire Lady is two from two on slow going and Moroney is hoping she can run a good race enroute to a crack at black type racing over the Flemington carnival.

Thursday is a busier day with three runners at Ballarat, the first of those being Liberated Rose in the 1600m maiden.

Sound second up at Echuca recently, the daughter of Red Ransom has always been well regarded but after suffering from a severe chest infection has not been able to live up to her potential.

“But her last run was good,” Moroney said, “and it would be nice to win a maiden with her.”

Stepping up to 2000m at her third run this time in, Macpherson has not had the best of luck this time in although the stable were a little disappointed with her latest outing.

“She is going to have to improve,” Moroney conceded – hoping that the rise in distance may see a better performance.

Sagacious Flame on the other hand is back in distance, contesting the 1200m ratings event having raced over longer trips at her last three outings.

Good when placed at Sale two starts back, the four-year-old Canny Lad mare led last time, tiring in the run home.

“I don’t think she is a leader,” said Moroney, “and she will take a sit this time.”

In other stable news our team from Saturday pulled up well – Famechon in better shape than we’d feared after his rider reported that he was not able to let down on the firm going.

He presses onto the VRC Derby whilst there are also Cup Week races for Octavia who had to do too much work after missing the start at Caulfield.

Meanwhile stayers Garud and Araldo will race in the Lexus on Derby Day in an attempt to make their way into the Melbourne Cup field.