Member Login

MORONEY'S FOCUS SHIFTS ACROSS TASMAN

Fresh from winning with all of his three runners at Flemington on Saturday, Mike Moroney has shifted his focus to New Zealand.

The trans-Tasman trainer flew over from Melbourne on Sunday, with Christmas and Ellerslie’s Boxing Day races on the agenda.

Moroney and co-trainer Pam Gerard will be represented by Pinmedown (pictured) in the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m), Harlech in the Listed Shaw’s Wire Ropes Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), and two-year-olds Dragon Queen and Targhee in the Stella Artois (1100m).

Moroney is particularly looking forward to the resuming run of Harlech, who produced a big finish for a close second to Catalyst in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in his last start in early November. He had previously won the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).

“He’s a very talented horse and we’ve always had a pretty big opinion of him,” Moroney said. “He ran into a good one down in Christchurch, but we think there’s still room for him to improve out of that.

“At this stage, this race is a lead-up to the Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) in Wellington next month. Being a colt, getting a Group One win is the first priority with him.

“If he came through that really well, we could also look at the million-dollar Karaka Million race at Ellerslie, and there’s also a strong possibility that he’ll end up in Australia a bit further down the track. But we haven’t made any firm plans beyond the Levin Classic at this stage.”

Pinmedown, who won the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at this meeting last year, heads into the Zabeel Classic with an improving formline. Her most recent run was a fast-finishing third in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).

“She might have gone even closer last time if she’d run straight,” Moroney said. “I don’t think she’s quite as tractable left-handed – she’s better suited on right-handed tracks.
“The signs seem to be that she’s coming back into her best form, which is really good to see.”

Moroney also has a lot of time for the two-year-old fillies Dragon Queen and Targhee, although a wide draw of 13 makes the latter a doubtful starter on Thursday.

“I think they’re both very smart fillies, and neither of them have had a lot of luck in their races so far,” Moroney said. “With Targhee drawing so wide in this race, it’s possible we may save her for the Group Three race (Eclipse Stakes, 1200m) on New Year’s Day.”

Dragon Queen and Targhee both lined up at Ellerslie on November 30, finishing third and fourth as Taroni was first past the post but relegated to second behind Bordeaux Le Rouge. Both fillies were affected by Taroni’s waywardness in the straight. – NZ Racing Desk 
[23 Dec 19]

CERTAIN ON THE RISE (Australia)

CERTAIN ON THE RISE
[10 Oct 24] Certain Rise has the chance to go one better than her promising debut when she races at Mornington today.  more...

CERTAIN RISE IMPRESSES (Australia)

CERTAIN RISE IMPRESSES
[10 Oct 24] They say the cream always rises to the top and Certain Rise showed her class with a dominant performance at Mornington today.  more...

WE'RE OFF TO ROYAL SALE (Australia)

WE'RE OFF TO ROYAL SALE
[09 Oct 24] Royal Infantry runs for us in the fourth race at Sale today.  more...
CROSS AT SALE (Aus) [19 May 24]
HAIL CEASAR (Aus) [17 Jan 24]
FANCY LIKE, OH (NZ) [15 Oct 23]
BUFFY'S BACK! (Aus) [23 Sep 23]
FALCON SOARS (Aus) [08 Jun 23]
READY TO ROCH (Aus) [25 Feb 23]
HAIL CEASAR! (Aus) [24 Dec 22]
SUNDAY DUTY (Aus) [18 Dec 22]
SASSY ALRIGHT (NZ) [23 Oct 21]
AKTAU RETURNS (Aus) [31 Jul 21]
CORKS A POPPIN (NZ) [26 Jun 21]
COBRA STRIKES (Aus) [25 Oct 20]
SNIPER AT MOE (Aus) [16 Oct 20]
STAFF WANTED (NZ) [29 Oct 18]
RUBY A GEM (NZ) [25 Apr 18]
AVEC MOI WINS (NZ) [07 Mar 18]
BORN TO WIN (Aus) [28 Aug 17]
Girl Power! (NZ) [15 Sep 16]
100 Looms! (Aus) [21 Jul 16]
She's A Rose (Aus) [09 Jul 16]
Ararat Trio (Aus) [17 May 16]
Two Guineas! (Aus) [04 Mar 16]
Tulsa Resumes (Aus) [05 Feb 16]
Extra Smart! (Aus) [02 Sep 15]
Sandown Trio. (Aus) [01 Sep 15]
Rose Blooms! (Aus) [31 Aug 15]
Saturday Trio (Aus) [17 Jul 15]
Quiet Weekend (Aus) [25 Jun 15]
Sandown Trio (Aus) [03 Mar 15]
Garud At Best (Aus) [29 Dec 14]
Christmas Joy (Aus) [28 Dec 14]
Thursday Trio (Aus) [25 Nov 14]
RIP Araldo (Aus) [05 Nov 14]
Miz Flies! (Aus) [04 Aug 14]
Tasmanian Duo (Aus) [25 Feb 14]
Midweek Duo (Aus) [21 Jan 14]
Weekend Trio (Aus) [06 Dec 13]
Sale duo (Aus) [25 Sep 13]
On A Roll! (NZ) [17 Aug 13]
Te Rapa Duo (NZ) [15 Aug 13]
Confidence! (Aus) [26 Jul 13]
Lady Fires (Aus) [29 Mar 13]
Ararat Double (Aus) [12 Feb 13]
A Major win (Aus) [10 Nov 12]
Sale Saturday (Aus) [06 Sep 12]
A Magic start (Aus) [09 Apr 12]
Flashy flies! (Aus) [24 Mar 12]
Two for two! (Aus) [04 Nov 11]
What a week! (Aus) [03 Oct 11]
Born To Win! (Aus) [01 Oct 11]
Dashing Duke (Aus) [06 Jul 11]
She Rocks! (Aus) [18 Jun 11]
Busy weekend! (Aus) [03 Jun 11]
The Team (Aus) [09 Apr 11]
A Sale double (Aus) [28 Feb 11]
He's a Moral! (Aus) [18 Nov 10]
Oaks Day 2010 (Aus) [02 Nov 10]
A big weekend (Aus) [08 Jan 10]
Take That! (Aus) [02 Dec 09]