Brilliant Barnsley

It was a gutsy maiden victory recorded by Barnsley at Wangaratta on Friday, the three-year-old at just his second outing - and his first since the spring - showing good natural pace to lead the 1170m maiden, digging deep when challenged over the final stages.

It was a relief to see the good looking chestnut find winning form so quickly after a significant set-back, the son of Showcasing found to be a roarer after his unplaced debut last September.

The stable had expected much of Barnsley that day and since his operation he has been working well.

"He came across from New Zealand showing a lot," Michael Moroney said, "but he started to make a bit of noise and after his first start he became a full blown roarer."

"He is a horse we have got a bit of time for and so long as he holds up in the wind he can progress through to Saturday class."

Jockey Jordan Childs was impressed by Barnsley's gutsy performance - "kudos to him," he said, "he was in for the fight."

"He is a horse who is still learning to put a race away," he continued, "but he gives the feeling that he is going to be a nice horse."

A Karaka Select purchase for Paul Moroney, Barnsley is a half-brother to four winners out of the three times winning Bigstone mare Zafonique, a full sister to the dual Group winner Lady Mulan.

We are looking forward to our winning run continuing on the weekend and we have three nice horses in consecutive races late in the day at Caulfield - kicking off with Loyalty Man in the Sky High Handicap.

The winner of his last two in impressive fashion, the son of Fastnet Rock rises in class, taking on some handy types, but Moroney is looking forward "to seeing where he fits in."

"We don't want it too wet for him so we will monitor conditions but he has done very well since his last start and from the inside gate he should run another bold race."

In the following race, the Charter Keck Cramer Plate, we have Rhythm To Spare having just his second run back from a spell.

"The 1400m will probably be a bit short for him," said Moroney, "but this rain about brings him further into contention and he is not without a place chance from a nice draw."

In the final event, the LU Simon Builders Handicap, we have Trendsetter who is also second up having finished a respectable sixth when resuming over a shorter trip at Geelong two weeks ago.

"He does like it even longer and may find a few of these bit too slick for him but if we happened to get a lot of rain his chances would be enhanced."

The Adelaide carnival is in full swing and we take three good chances to Morphettville on Saturday, the first of those being Space who takes on just five others in the opening event, the Where's Lewy Grantham Handicap.

"Small fields can come down to tactics and luck," Moroney said, "but it looks a nice race for him."

Serenade is chasing black type success in the Listed HC Nitschke Stakes later in the day and we are confident that she will see out the 1400m on the back of her strong Ballarat victory a couple of weeks ago.

"She has only had one go at the distance and she never saw daylight so it was hard to get a line on her. But we think she will run it out and she is going really well. This looks a nice chance for her to win a stakes race. There is good pace on and she should settle midfield and finish off strongly."

Another of the day's features is the Group Three Chairman's Stakes and War Legend looks a top chance after his game third in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas last time out.

"He has trained on really well and whilst the horse who beat him last time (Howard Be Thy Name) should again prove hard to beat our fellow has drawn better this week."

"So long as he relaxes in the run and has a bit of luck he should prove hard to toss."

We also have a chance on Sunday with just the one runner, Strike Force heading to Geelong where he contests the BM64 1300m event.

First up since December, the lightly raced Lookin At Lucky three-year-old showed good potential when last in work, not always having the best of luck from tricky barrier draws.

"He is a lovely horse who has come back bigger and stronger," Moroney enthused.

"We have always had a good opinion of him and he should run well first up."