Busy Ballymore Weekend

Our weekend kicks off at Moonee Valley on Friday night with runners in consecutive races – Ali Vital and Crimson Lady.

Lining up in the seventh event, the City Jeep Handicap, promising four-year-old Ali Vital is having his first run since a Queensland winter campaign that saw him record an impressive victory over 2200m at Doomben.

Likely to find the 1500m a bit short, the bay has however matured nicely and, says Michael Moroney “is forward enough to run well.”

“He will get better as he gets over more ground,” Moroney added, nothing though that the son of Yamanin Vital was placed over 1509m (albeit in maiden class) first up last time in.

The following race, the Sportingbet Handicap over 2040m, sees Crimson Lady as topweight – the five-year-old dropping in class after contesting a strong event at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

“She was disappointing that day,” Moroney conceded, noting that the five-year-old had been sound and rather unlucky at her two previous outings.

“We can only attribute her run to her racing handier than usual but she does have to be taken on trust.”

However jockey Ryan Maloney has been in great form of late and hopefully we can see the best of the talented Volksraad mare.

Earlier in the day at Pakenham we saddle up three runners – Malanco, Little Hero and Baqaat.

First up in a 1300m maiden, Malanco did not show a great deal at his first two runs and Moroney thinks that the son of Danzero “will be better over a bit more ground.”

Little Hero, who takes his place in the ratings 1300m event, has been freshened since proving disappointing as favourite over a mile at Wodonga in early November.

“We will see if a drop back in distance will work,” Moroney said, adding that “if he puts his best hoof forward he’ll prove hard to beat.”

Baqaat kicks off her summer campaign in a 1400m race and Moroney is looking forward to seeing her over more ground later on.

“But she never runs a bad race,” he said, “and she has drawn nicely (barrier one) so she won’t be far away.”

To Caulfield on Saturday where the first of our two runners is Flashy Fella in the CFV Ambassadors Plate.

He too has drawn the inside gate which, Moroney says, is pleasing.

“That is a big plus for him,” he said, “as he races best when he gets a bit of cover.”

“He comes off a nice last start win in the Ararat Cup and he is proven over the 2000m at Caulfield.”

The winner of two in a row before a game second in the Silver Bowl on Ararat Cup Day, Murcielaga also looks a good chance at Caulfield – taking his place in the Ballymore Stables Handicap – a race it would certainly be apt for us to win!

“His last defeat can be put down to the pace in the race,” Moroney said – noting that the in-form gelding got back to last off a tardy start in a slowly run affair, doing a great job to go so close.

“The 1700m on Saturday looks the right distance for him and he is going really well. He should prove hard to toss.”