A Pretty Strong Hand

“We look to be playing with a pretty strong hand over the weekend,” enthused Michael Moroney, confident that Ballymore’s five weekend runners at Caulfield and Sandown are all in with big chances.

Kicking off our busy weekend is the talented Yesterday’s Songs who created such a fine impression breaking his maiden at Sandown last month.

It has not all been smooth sailing since that race, the three-year-old’s preparation interrupted by “a few hiccups” but Moroney has been happy with the bay’s progress this week.

“It is a strong race but we think he is pretty good.”

Glen Boss takes the ride on Yesterday’s Songs who will jump from barrier ten in the Myrtle Lineham Centenary Plate, the second event of the day.

We wait then wait until the sixth race for our next runner Jemerica who was scratched from the Caulfield meeting on Wednesday where the rail being out 13 metres was not going to suit.

“I think we made the right call,” Moroney said, noting that backmarkers were not well placed at that meeting.

“She has drawn out in the car-park (barrier 15) again but she gets back so it probably doesn’t matter. She is going well – we have been really happy with her.”

Jemerica will be ridden by Damien Thornton in the Champagne Pommery Masters Handicap.

Hopefully she will be the first leg of a winning daily double for the stable with Surpass contesting the final race, the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap over 1800m.

Drawn barrier 13 for Jordan Childs, the consistent galloper is suited up in distance after a game second in a recent winter championship heat over a mile at Cranbourne.

“He comes off a really good run and has trained on well, he should prove pretty hard to beat.”

Moroney is hoping that Sunday will also be a rewarding day for the stable with two runners at Sandown.

The first of those is the talented Marwood (pictured) who impressed with a barnstorming Seymour victory at his first run after undergoing a wind operation.

“He has come back really well and this looks another winnable race for him,” Moroney said, happy with the gelding’s barrier draw 8 – Steven Arnold to ride.

Meanwhile Glen Boss hops on Black Tomahawk in the final race.

“He too has trained on well since his last start win,” Moroney said, noting that the Seul Amour four-year-old impressed at Echuca a few weeks ago.

“We have been really happy with him and he is another who looks hard to beat.”