Friday Night Action

Ballymore cheers on runners in two states on Friday night - import Baqaat taking her place at Moonee Valley whilst Church Boy kicks off his summer campaign at Canterbury Park.

Drawn nicely in barrier five for the in-form Katelyn Mallyon, Baqaat lines up in Moonee Valley's opening race, the Aquanas Handicap.

A last start Stony Creek winner over 1780m, Baqaat (pictured) has trained on nicely since - stripping even fitter at her fourth run this preparation and ideally suited up in distance.

"She is rising in class," Michael Moroney conceded, "but she has a nice gate and the 2040m suits - she should again prove hard to beat."

Meanwhile Church Boy resumes in the third race at Canterbury Park, the Drummond Golf Plate.

A lightly raced three-year-old who showed good promise during a brief winter campaign, the son of Iffraaj looked good winning a recent Randwick trial.

"He should run very well," said Moroney, noting that the gelding has drawn very well in barrier three for Nash Rawiller.

"He has the blinkers on and is ready to run a top race."

We have no runners on Saturday but we do have a couple of nice chances at the Werribee meeting on Sunday.

Promising juvenile Say My Name lines up in the Werribee Racing Club Function Centre 2YO Maiden Plate and should run well on the back of an encouraging first up fourth at Bendigo recently.

"He is improving," Moroney said, although confident that the son of Onemorenomore will be all the better over a little more ground.

"Damien Oliver won a jump out on him recently and he seems to think he will be a 1400m horse," he said.

"But he is going well and we have always had a bit of time for him."

Saint Or Sinner is our other Werribee runner, taking his place in the New Zealand Bloodstock Showcase BM70 Handicap.

To be ridden by Damien Oliver, he ran nicely first up but has not had things go right since.

"He has not had the easiest time between runs," said Moroney, "but he does look to be better than most of these so he is still a top chance."

Monday is the Australia Day holiday and racing heads to Mornington where we have Air Striker and Devonshire Duke racing.

Air Striker was last at his most recent outing, suffering from atrial fibrillation - a set-back the stable have had great success at overcoming.

"Most of ours seem to win their next start," Moroney said, "and hopefully this horse will follow suit."

Devonshire Duke is looking for the sting out but has been racing well in the class he contests on Monday - "he just needs a bit of rain," said Moroney.