Monaco Consul back in action

Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul could be the next Australian star to campaign on the world stage in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France next year.

Trainer Mike Moroney revealed the long-range mission for the son of High Chaparral after the colt made his first public appearance in a 1000-metre barrier trial at Caloundra on Tuesday ahead of his Melbourne Cup campaign.

"He'd have to race well and come through the spring in Melbourne without any problems but ultimately we'd like to take him overseas next year," Moroney said.

"He's a stallion and we'd like to globe-trot him next year at some stage.

"Next year will probably be his final year before he goes to stud and it would really boost his stud value if he could win a big race overseas.

"The Arc de Triomphe would be the ideal race for him."

The rising four-year-old travelled wide and came from last in his barrier trial on the cushion track to finish a close second in his first serious gallop since finishing third to Road To Rock in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April.

Moroney was delighted with the three-year-old's workout.

"He's still only three-quarters fit and is carrying a lot of condition," Moroney said.

"He'll take a lot of improvement from the trial and he'll now fly to Melbourne and have a jumpout at Flemington on Friday week."

Monaco Consul will resume in the Group Two Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 14 but Moroney is unsure which path to take to the Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November.

"He'll start off in the Liston but I'm still to work out where he'll go from there," Moroney said.

"The Melbourne Cup is his main mission but I'm undecided if he'll run in the Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup."

Moroney won the Melbourne Cup in 2000 with Brew and has adopted a similar pattern by spelling Monaco Consul in Queensland during the winter ahead of his spring campaign.

"I sent Brew up for the Brisbane Cup the same year he won the Melbourne Cup and he stayed on and wintered in the warmer climate in Queensland," Moroney said.

"Brew didn't have any luck and finished fourth in the Brisbane Cup but he really blossomed while he was in Queensland.

"Monaco Consul has been in Queensland a lot longer than Brew. He's enjoyed the warmer weather for the past two months and he's already got his summer coat."
- AAP