Moonee Valley Saturday

Our Saturday starts and ends early at Moonee Valley with Ballymore’s four runners competing in the first four races on a strong winter card.

The first race, The Valley Handicap, is a busy one for us with both Flashy Fella and Shenzhou Steeds to take their place in the 2040m contest.

A last start game second in the Warracknabeal Cup, Flashy Fella – who has drawn barrier five with Chris Symons to ride – strips all the fitter for his last couple.

“He has had enough racing now to be nice and fit,” Michael Moroney said.

“These small fields can be tricky but with luck in running he is in with a good chance.”

Whilst Flashy Fella does not want too much rain, his stablemate Shenzhou Steeds would welcome a downpour – having won four races on slow and heavy tracks.

“If the track happened to be slow or worse he’d be the one to beat,” Moroney said.

Close up at recent outings at Caulfield and Flemington, Shenzhou Steeds will jump from barrier two with Glen Boss aboard.

A running double would be nice and we have a decent chance in the second event, the Advanced Mailings Solutions Handicap – Devonshire Duke having been so impressive in Adelaide last time out.

Racing away to a 2¾ length victory over a mile, Devonshire Duke stays at that trip and actually drops a little in class – hence the impost of 60kg.

The 2kg claim by Damien Thornton brings him right into calculations however and he has pleased us with his progress since returning to Flemington.

“He is going really well and another win would not surprise,” Moroney said.

A horse less easy to be confident out is African Pulse (pictured) who contests the fourth race, the United Refrigeration Handicap over 1000m.

Whilst the lightly raced six-year-old is a gifted galloper, he has “not been the same horse” since an operation required for severe injury last year.

“Mind you he only has to be 80/90% to be competitive with the weight he has,” Moroney said, noting that the five times winner drops to 53kg after the claim of Jordan Childs.

And the last time he got into a race with such a light weight he defeated Amaethon by 2 ½ lengths over 1000m at Caulfield.

On Sunday we saddle up another three runners at the Seymour meeting, the first of which is Miz Sinatra in the seventh event, the Ben Davey Plumbing Handicap.

“She has drawn well and is down in the weights,” Moroney said, “but she is coming off some disappointing form.”

Well below her best when second last at Geelong last time out, Miz Sinatra has however not had things go quite her way this campaign.

“She has had meetings called off and has had a bit of a torrid time.”

Same goes for Walloon Region who lines up in the eighth race, the Pet Horse & Farm Nagambie Handicap.

“He has had to be scratched a few times due to foot problems and has also had meetings called off.”

“He will probably wear bar plates on Sunday which will hopefully help with his sore feet – he has been working well and he looks great.”

Mudlark Awesome Goal is our final runner for the weekend and we are hoping for a nice wet track for him as he contests the Mitchelton Wines Showcase.

“The wetter the better for him,” said Moroney.