Space & Marwood - Ballymore Double

Saturday was a highly successful one for Ballymore Stables, an interstate double with Space saluting in determined style at Rosehill whilst come-back galloper Marwood outclassed his rivals at Seymour.

A particularly tough galloper who has been in work since late last year, Space was having his 11th run for the preparation when lining up in the Drummond Golf Handicap over 2400m.

Nicely ridden by Jeff Lloyd who has not long been back from an illness enforced break, Space enjoyed a good run midfield along the rails.

He did however have to find a bit in the run home, the first two scooting clear as he switched ground to make his run.

And he really found over the final stages, diving on the line to nab short priced favourite Sense Of Occasion.

In doing so Space, who joined the stable last spring having previously been a member of the Macedon Lodge team, recorded the fourth win of his 17 start career and his second for us.

A son of Dubai Destination raced by a large group of happy owners, Space is a half-brother to the stakes placed Miss Barwang from the prolific “The” family – one which has produced the Group One winners The Phantom, The Phantom Chance, Irish Chance and The Jewel – as well as Ballymore’s Group Three winner The One.

Meanwhile we were thrilled to have Marwood into winning form at his first run since the spring.

Always highly regarded, the son of our Group One winning mare Pernod won his first two last winter and spring by wide margins and he looked a leading carnival contender.

Unfortunately wind issues arose and whilst he was successfully operated on, it is always a concern as to whether they can come back to form.

“You don’t really know until the pressure of race-day is on them,” Michael Moroney said.

Fortunately in Marwood’s case, the come-back was a successful one. Settling nicely back in the field for Jason Lyon, the three-year-old hooked out at the turn and charged home.

Hopefully it is onwards and upwards for Marwood whose breeding suggests he will only improve as he matures.

Now we look forward to another winning week, one which kicks off with the promising Black Tomahawk contesting the fourth heat of the Murray Mallee Winter Stayers Series at Echuca on Monday.

Finishing off nicely at his last two starts over shorter trips, the son of Seul Amour is well primed for the step up to 2124.

“He is a really nice stayer,” Moroney enthused.

“His last run was very good and he should prove very hard to beat.”