Rhythm To Spare contests Emirates

Ballymore sees off Melbourne Cup week with two runners on the final day of the Flemington carnival including a leading chance in the day’s feature event, the Group One Emirates Stakes.

Nicely drawn in barrier eight for Chad Schofield, Rhythm To Spare is in good shape leading into the $1 million race… “we are very happy with him,” Michael Moroney said.

Pulling up well from an eye-catching and unlucky fifth in the Toorak Handicap, Rhythm To Spare has pleased the stable with his progress since and Moroney is confident of a bold showing – “he should prove pretty hard to beat.”

Running into trouble in the Toorak, Rhythm To Spare ran on strongly late after being baulked when beginning his run at the turn and he was again tightened close to home.

“He deserves to win a race like this,” Moroney said – confident that Rhythm To Spare strips at his best fourth up.

A Flemington winner at the same stage of his last campaign, Rhythm To Spare also ran in last year’s Emirates Stakes; beaten less then two lengths after a less than ideal run.

Our other Flemington runner takes his place in the Antler Luggage Handicap earlier in the day, Saint Or Sinner to jump from the inside gate for James McDonald in the 1600m contest.

Also fourth up, the son of St Reims has not had a great deal of luck this time in and he did plenty of work from an outside gate in the Seymour Cup last start.

“He has drawn nicely this time and that is the key to him,” Moroney said.

“He had to be used up a lot last time and it told over the final stages of the race.”

A horse boasting a good strike rate, Saint Or Sinner has won six of his 17 starts and the stable is confident that Flemington will suit him.