Voleuse de Coeurs - Record-Breaker?

Should Voleuse de Coeurs prove successful in Saturday’s Group One Sydney Cup, she will need to set a weight-carrying record for a mare – the five-year-old facing a tough task with top-weight of 58kg in the $1 million event.

And making her job all the more difficult – the barrier draw, Voleuse de Coeurs to jump from gate 16 in a field of 17.

“It is certainly not ideal,” Michael Moroney said, hoping that the mare’s class shines through despite all that is against her.

“But she has a great record at the two miles and she is the class runner of the field.”

A two times winner and a respectable tenth in last year’s Melbourne Cup at her three 3200m outings to date, Voleuse de Coeurs has not been far away in the Australian Cup and The BMW at her last couple of outings although Moroney admits to being a little disappointed with her most recent run.

“She raced like a horse who was not handling the ground,” he said – noting that jockey Glen Boss reported that “she was bumbling all the way.”

“He was surprised as he was confident she would handle it – but her best form in the UK was on better tracks,” Moroney continued – pointing to Voleuse de Coeurs’ easy Irish St Leger victory on good ground.

“It looks like being slow at best on Saturday but Sydney has had a couple of day of sunshine so it should not be as heavy as it has been in the last few weeks.”

Voleuse de Coeurs, who is currently around 10-1 for the Sydney Cup, is our only Randwick runner on Saturday but we will be kept busy with three entries at Caulfield.

The first of those is Garud who resumes in the Group Three Victoria Handicap.

Having his first run since New Year’s Day, the High Chaparral six-year-old is best known for his form over longer trips but he can pull out a good first up run.

“He usually goes well on the fresh side,” Moroney said, noting that first up last time in Garud was a Listed third beaten less than a length behind Shoreham and Dany The Fox at Flemington.

“It is a strong field but it is a nice starting off point for him.”

The in-form Saint Or Sinner lines up in the day’s other feature event, the Group 3 Easter Cup, and we are looking forward to seeing how he measures up in stakes company.

“He is up in class but he has been winning in good style and he has trained on really well,” said Moroney.

The winner of his last four, Saint Or Sinner is nicely primed for the 2000m and, says Moroney “from the good gate (2) he should prove hard to beat.”

Tough mare Octavia is the third of our Caulfield trio, having her second run for this preparation in the final event of the day – the Noel Rundle Handicap.

Not far away when resuming at Moonee Valley, the consistent four-year-old returns to her favourite track and her second up form is good.

“She is going really well in her track work and she loves Caulfield,” said Moroney, noting Octavia’s three wins and three placings from eight runs there.

Monday is another busy day at Caulfield for the stable and we have two runners in the Sandown Park (UK) Handicap – Present Arms and Space.

Drawn next to each other, the pair are both in good order leading into the 2400m contest.

“Present Arms has been up a while but we thought we’d give him a crack at a 2400m race before he heads to the paddock.”

“He is a nice staying horse and he should run well,” Moroney said of the four-year-old who has been in the thick of things at four outings since a Seymour victory in January.

Space meanwhile, Moroney admits, was a little disappointing at Sandown last start although not disgraced in fifth placing.

“He loomed up there and didn’t quite finish it off but in saying that he will strip fitter for his last couple at the 2400m.”

A horse who has not always had the best of luck, Lordoftheparrots is having a final flat run before kicking off his new career as a hurdler.

“He has had a couple of jumping trials since his last run and he has been going well.”

Zazparella has been game in the placings at three of her last four starts but keeps striking firmish tracks when what she is really after is the sting out.

“She has been racing well – she just wants some rain,” said Moroney

Asadauskaite is our other Monday runner, due to race over 1800m at the Kensington meeting.

Finishing off nicely when second at her Australian debut at Bendigo a few weeks ago, she is suited up in distance and Moroney hopes some of the rain will stay around for her.

“Any sting out of the track will help her,” he said, adding that “she looks well placed.”