Two Country Cups!

Whilst Melbourne Cup week is shaping up as a very busy one for Ballymore, we don’t have any Cox Plate Day runners – although we will be cheering home two Country Cup contestants this weekend.

Flashy Fella in the Hamilton Cup and Rhythm To Spare (pictured) in the Sale Cup – and we are confident that they are both capable of bold showings.

Whilst safely held at his first two runs this time in, handsome chestnut Flashy Fella strips fitter and Michael Moroney is looking forward to seeing what he can do over 2200m.

“He is getting up to his right sort of distance now,” he said of the gelding who ran second in last year’s Western Australian Derby.

Unfortunately drawn out wide in barrier 15, Flashy Fella will be partnered by Jason Lyon who hops aboard the five-year-old for the first time.

Whilst Flashy Fella will be at double figure odds in the Hamilton Cup, stablemate Rhythm To Spare has opened up short in the Sale Cup.

Which is not surprising considering just how impressive he was racing away to a 2¼ length victory at Caulfield last time out.

“He came through that race really well,” Moroney enthused, adding that the Sale Cup “is a big race for him.”

Not so much because of the rise in class – as he looks an exciting type up to the task – but because it is important he win in order to increase his rating so that he can have a crack at the Group One Emirates Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival.

Rhythm To Spare is one of our three Sale runners – Murcielaga and Devonshire Duke the others.

Drawn nicely in barrier three for in-form hoop Nicholas Hall in the 1400m ratings event, Murcielaga was impressive saluting at Ballarat last start and he has progressed nicely since.

“He has trained on very well,” said Moroney, adding that the lightly raced and promising four-year-old “should prove hard to beat and he should go through his classes pretty quickly this time in.”

Devonshire Duke, having his first start since a Moonee Valley second in June, resumes over 1200m and a bold showing is expected.

“He usually races very well first up,” Moroney said, “and he is well forward for this assignment.”