Runners Everywhere!

A particularly busy weekend for Ballymore kicks off with three runners at the Geelong meeting on Friday – Say My Name, Flashy Fella and Black Tomahawk all taking their place at the club’s first turf meeting for the season.

First up for the day is Say My Name who contests the Briesis Club Maiden. Seventh when resuming on a track playing to the on-pacers when resuming at Seymour last month, the son of Onemorenomore has always been well regarded by the stable.

Deriving great benefit from his first up run, Say My Name has progressed nicely since – “we have been really happy with his work,” Michael Moroney said – “he just needs a bit of luck from a tricky draw.”

Jake Noonan takes the ride on Say My Name who will jump from barrier eight.

Our two other Geelong runners line up in the same race – Flashy Fella and Black Tomahawk taking each other on in the Sporting Globe Bar Handicap over 2200m.

Flashy Fella, who has plenty of natural talent, has been puzzling us of late – the chestnut a distant last at Moonee Valley last time out; jockey Glen Boss reporting that whilst he felt well, he just didn’t put in.

“We have started schooling him,” Moroney said, hoping to reinvigorate the six-year-old who has raced competitively at black-type level.

“He is going well at home but racing terribly,” he said, wondering if a severe bout of travel sickness when he was younger has effected the horse long term.

Regal Bayliss rides Flashy Fella whilst Stephen Baster hops aboard Black Tomahawk who has had a month between runs.

“There was a bit of a virus going around which he got but he appears to be over it and he has been working very well.”

Moroney is happy to see Black Tomahawk draw barrier one after a series of awkward draws for the five-year-old.

“He has had to be dragged back from outside gates at recent runs but this time he should get a nice run and prove hard to beat.”

On Saturday we take horses to four different meetings – Flemington, Rosehill, Morphettville and Echuca.

At headquarters we saddle up the promising Merion in the Listed Living Legends Stakes with Steven Arnold again taking the ride.

An impressive winner of his first two starts at two, the O’Reilly gelding pleased us with his first up fourth over 1200m and will be suited up to the 1400m on Saturday.

“We couldn’t be happier with him,” Moroney enthused.

“He did a very nice piece of work here this week and he seems to have really improved since his first up run.”

“It is a strong race – it looks like a rehearsal for the Caulfield Guineas – but I think he just needs a bit of luck in running to feature.”

Rhythm To Spare (pictured), who resumes in the final event – the Listed Sofitel – is our second Flemington runner.

Having his first run since a Gr.3 victory in Adelaide in May, the Pins five-year-old has had a set-back this campaign suffering from a virus but he looks well leading into his spring campaign.

“I will warn people that so far he has been better in the autumn than in the spring but he is fully mature now and if he is anywhere near his best he will prove hard to beat from a lovely draw.”

Sherbet Bomb is the first of our Rosehill duo, due to race in the Paslode Handicap over 1500m with Sam Clipperton aboard.

Not in the best part of the track when resuming at Bendigo, the five-year-old Snitzel mare was however disappointing.

“She had a couple of little issues but not enough to warrant how poor her run was,” Moroney admitted.

“But she has improved,” he said, adding that if she was to disappoint again she may head to stud.

Nordic Duke races in the following event, the McGrath Handicap over 1800m with Jeff Lloyd aboard.

“It looks the right race for him,” said Moroney, “and if we get a genuinely slow track it will be right up his alley.”

“He did a good job when third at Canterbury last time out as he just struggled to get around the track.”

Saint Or Sinner is out Adelaide runner in the Tattsbet Benchmark.

Jordan Childs rides the five-year-old who was last seen running a close-up fourth in the Gr.3 Easter Cup at Caulfield in May.

Boasting solid first up for, Saint Or Sinner is better over longer than the 1200m but he has been shaping nicely this time in and he does has, as Moroney noted “a bit of class on his side.”

We also take four horses to the Echuca meeting beginning with Naval Craft in the opening event, an 1100m maiden.

“He is quite a nice horse,” Moroney said of the son of Starcraft, “but he is immature still – not totally switched on yet.”

Kiwi Dreamer, who races in the third – a 1400m maiden, is another debutant.

“He is a nice stayer in the making but he will be better in the autumn – he will need a bit of practice.”

Buck Rogers lines up in the following race, another 1400m maiden, and we are expecting a much improved showing after his debut over 1100m.

“He is one we really like – we think he will make the grade over the spring or the autumn and we think he can turn things around very quickly.”

Habitual Offender is the last of our Echuca runners in the Celebration Mile.

“He wanted to over-race despite a hot speed first up,” Moroney said, “so have put the ear muffs on to try to get him to relax better.”

“He looks well and has been working well.”

Best of luck to all our owners during a big weekend!