Memories of Mr Baritone

After a successful weekend that saw a Group victory for Rhythm To Spare and a stakes placing for the game Octavia, Ballymore looks forward to another busy week – one which kicks off with two runners at Wednesday’s Sandown meeting.

Kept a little fresh since her latest run, talented Al Maher mare Zazparella has performed well in a jump-out since and she deserves a change of luck after being badly held up for runs for most of the straight at Caulfield in late April.

Previously in the placings at Sandown, Zazparella is in good order and Michael Moroney is confident of a bold showing – “she should prove hard to beat,” he said – noting that she has the services of an in-form Damien Oliver.

Murcielaga (pictured) is our other Sandown runner and he is first up having last raced at Flemington in mid-January.

“He is well forward fresh,” Moroney reported, adding that “he went very well in a jump-out here recently and whilst he will improve on whatever he shows a win would not surprise.”

“He is a horse with a fair amount of ability.”

On Thursday we take runners to two meetings – Music Of Life to Gosford and Lord Barrington and Black Tomahawk to Bendigo.

Dropping back to provincial level after running respectably in a metropolitan maiden last time out, Music Of Life looks ready to win – stripping hard fit fourth up.

“She has been knocking on the door and this looks a nice race for her,” said Moroney of the daughter of Exceed And Excel.

We saddle up a first starter in the opening event at Bendigo on Thursday – the Darci Brahma two-year-old Lord Barrington.

“He is a really nice type of horse,” Moroney enthused.

“He has trialled well and whilst he has been a bit green he has shown a fair bit of speed.”

Lord Barrington hails from a family with which the stable have enjoyed good success – his dam being a full sister to our Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Mr Baritone.

We wait for the final race on the Bendigo card for our other runner Black Tomahawk who is stepping up in distance after a solid first up showing at the same track last month.

“He went well that day,” Moroney said, “and he has had a jump-out since to keep him fit.”

“He is coming along well and he is a nice stayer in the making.”