Ballymore Stables

Abitofado wins Stony Creek Cup

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

A welcome change of luck for the stable on Sunday with tough galloper Abitofado recording an easy victory in the Stony Creek Cup.

A gutsy on-pacer who has been in great form this time in - the only blemish on his record an unplaced run at Moonee Valley when swoopers were suited - Abitofado has won two of his last three.

Congratulations to owners Matthew Fraser, Bill Vasilopoulos, Michael Antill, Denis Coombs, Peter Walker, Robert Veitch, Glen Flude, Graeme Walter and The Fat Belly Martin Racing Syndicate (manager Andrew Slattery)

Abitofado has now won seven races and over $158,000 in stakes. This latest victory was a special one in that it was his easiest to date - the five-year-old relishing the heavy conditions to salute by a soft 3.8 lengths.

We now look forward to Monday with the promising Across The Moon - a 3/4 sister to the Gr.2 winner Melito - running in the Listed Pewsey Vale Stake at Morphettville whilst smart filly Pointe Dancer takes her place in the opening event at Moonee Valley.

UPDATES ON KING PULSE & MONACO CONSUL

King Pulse will be at Werribee for a few more days, diagnosed with shoulder and hip damage. We are hoping that no infection sets in and if that is the case he will be back at the Flemington stables soon.

Meanwhile Monaco Consul pulled up sore from his unplaced New Zealand Derby run and has a minor joint issue.

King Pulse in the news

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Michael Moroney trained King Pulse continues to be backed to cause a first up surprise in the Newmarket shortening to $12 at Sportingbet Australia.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said the Canny Lad gelding has shortened from $15 to $12 in the past 24 hours as a number of big bets were written.

“One client has had $10,000 each way at $15 so he stands to collect nearly $200,000 alone,” Sullivan said.

“He showed tremendous promise in his three runs in the Spring and this level of support certainly suggest he is flying on the track.

“It is a massive step up to the Newmarket but there is obviously a degree of confidence that he can take the next step.”

King Pulse has had just three starts for two easy wins and a close second to Headway in the Group One VRC Coolmore Ascot Vale Stakes up the straight at Flemington in the spring after which he was immediately spelled.

Monaco Consul - one down, two to go!

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

By AIDAN RODLEY - Waikato Times

One leg down, two to go.

That's the approach Matamata brothers Paul and Michael Moroney are taking for tomorrow's $2.2 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) with dual Gr I winner Monaco Consul.

The High Chaparral three-year-old gelding has already picked up two Gr I wins this season but he will at least double that tally if the Moroney brothers get their way.

Paul Moroney yesterday revealed Monaco Consul's grand plan was to win three Derbies this season - and there was a chance the second one could be won from the front.

He has already won the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby, and tomorrow's New Zealand Derby will be the forerunner to a tilt at the Gr I A$1.3 million AJC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 10.

''It's a treble that's never been done before and that's been our plan the whole way through,'' Moroney said.

''One thing we know is that he won't be a spent force afterwards. He's really only just starting to find himself now in the autumn. It's all onwards and upwards.''

Monaco Consul was last night a $6 third favourite for the Gr I Ellerslie showpiece but that was a value price if Moroney's confidence was anything to go by.

A winner of three of his eight starts, Monaco Consul is the highest earner in the field with almost $1.3 million in the bank for owners Gerard Peterson and Owen Glenn.

An electric trackwork gallop at Matamata had all who saw it talking and was just the confirmation the Moroney brothers needed that their stable star was right on track.

''The horse has gone ahead leaps and bounds,'' Moroney said.

''His last three gallops on Friday here, Monday at Ellerslie and Wednesday here were very encouraging and we think the horse is right at his peak, a much improved horse from the spring, and we are going into the race with a huge amount of confidence that he's the best stayer in the race and will prove that on the day.''

Moroney said Monaco Consul's trackwork rider Reese Jones had described the Wednesday gallop as ''the equal of any he had ridden at Matamata and right up to the work he did before he left for the Spring Champion Stakes.''

Monaco Consul duly won the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney and retained his unbeaten Australian record in the Victorian Derby but failed in his two weight-for-age starts since in the Gr I Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie and the Gr I Darci Brahma International Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Moroney said a shoulder injury prevented Monaco Consul from showing his best in the Zabeel Classic and an experimental gear change of removing the pacifier blinkers at Te Rapa hadn't worked.

The pacifier blinkers go back on for the Derby and Monaco Consul would strip a fit and happy horse for the Derby, Moroney said.

''He's a five length better horse going into this race than he was going into the spring. We believe we've got the best horse and that he will prove that on Saturday,'' Moroney said.

''You've got to like Zarzuela. She's had a good preparation for the race and hasn't done anything wrong but she might be questionable in a strongly run Derby and we'll be making sure it's a strongly run Derby.

''We've got a horse who can stay so we won't be loitering. If the pace isn't up to it, we'll be turning up the wick a long way out. We won't be frightened to lead.

''We know we don't have a worry with stamina. We've already run 2500m and the others haven't gone this trip yet.''

The Moroneys will give jockey Leith Innes free rein to ride his own race but were keen to engage him as a positive rider who has already won the Derby through leading on Wahid in 2006.

Ballymore Stable will bid for its fourth New Zealand Derby win after Great Command in 1996, Cut The Cake in 2003 and Xcellent in 2004.

Paul Moroney, who will relinquish his trainer's licence at the end of the season, was a part-owner of both Cut The Cake and Xcellent and bred Cut The Cake, and he was hoping to complete a memorable treble tomorrow.

''It's my last throw of the dice really as having my last New Zealand Derby runner as a trainer and I've owned one and bred one to date so it would be a nice note to go out on,'' he said.

The weekend's runners

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

Gr.1 runners in two countries this Saturday - VRC Derby hero Monaco Consul due to take his place in the rich New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, Divine Rebel nominated for the Australian Cup at Flemington and King Pulse nicely primed for a first up tilt at the Newmarket Handicap.

Working well this week, Monaco Consul looked to be in great nick at trackwork on Monday - zipping home his last 600m in 34.3 seconds.

Pacifiers were back on for the gallop, Michael Moroney reporting that he improved in them - "we made a mistake and took the pacifiers off him last time and Leith Innes said he gawked around."

Divine Rebel has pulled up well from her gutsy Sunline Stakes fourth and she looks nicely primed fourth up at the 2000m. At the same stage of her last campaign she won the Epona Stakes over a similar trip. After this she heads to Sydney where the Gr.1 BMW is her main aim.

Handsome chestnut King Pulse - pictured at the stables this week - has come back in fine order, pleasing us in a recent a jump-out at Flemington. He is first up in the Newmarket and is proven at Gr.1 level, only just missing out on the prize in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November.

A horse with plenty of scope for improvement, the son of Canny Lad has had only three starts and we are looking forward to see what he can do this time in.

Viking Hero to contest Gr.2 on Saturday

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Third up from a spell, the classy Viking Hero looks nicely primed to run a big race in Saturday's Gr.2 Autumn Classic (The Yalumba 161) at Caulfield.

Catching the eye with a strong late finish at Sandown first up, the promising three-year-old was not far away from boom galloper Linton in the Alister Clark Stakes - not really finding the track to his liking.

"Moonee Valley didn't really suit him," said Michael Moroney who is confident that the step up to 1800m on Saturday will suit the son of Elvstroem.

"He is getting up to his right distnace now and he should be competitive."

The AJC Derby is the main aim for Viking Ruler who, after this race, will head to Sydney with the Rosehill Guineas also on his agenda.

Drawn nicely in barrier five at Caulfield, he will be ridden by Mark Zahra who was aboar the colt when he finished first across the line in Listed company at Flemington last spring - unfortunately losing the race on protest.

We also have two nice runners at Moonee Valley on Friday evening - St Ives and Linton Street.

St Ives, contesting the $100,000 Tour Of Victoria Final, has - like last start at the track - drawn an awkward outside gate but Moroney is hoping that the race will be run to suit.

"Last Friday night was not a track for leaders," he said, "but the rail is out futher this time so we will monitor the pattern early and decide what to do with him."

Linton Street has recovered well from a fall in the Colac Cup and he lines up in the $100,000 Moonee Valley Night Cup. He too has drawn out - barrier 11 - but he has plenty of time in the 2500m contest to find his feet.

"He copped a bit of a battering last start," Moroney said - "a horse broke down in front of him and he just didn't have time to get off his heels. He is right now though and he is up to his right distance."

A winner over 2800m on Melbourne Cup Day, Linton Street - providing he performs well at Moonee Valley - will have a crack at the Adelaide Cup.

And the beat goes on...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A good run for the stable continued at Yarra Valley on Saturday, the promising Beatboy recording a comprehensive maiden victory over 1962m.

Hard fit fourth up and appreciating a rise in distance, the lightly raced son of Rhythm was a short priced favourite and he won like one - on the line having three lengths on his rivals.

At his previously outing a strong finisher behind the promising El Spark, Beatboy displayed early ability in New Zealand - placing at his second start at Avondale before switching to the Melbourne stables.

Raced by the Rupert & Cheryl Legh Racing Synd, Wayne Mitchell, Rohan & Katherline Aujard and the G G Syndicate Ltd (manager Gerard Peterson), Beatboy is a son of the placed Pentire mare Switch Hitter whom Paul Moroney purchased as a yearling at Karaka.

A half sister to the four times winner Garina, Switch Hitter hails from a prolific black type family - her grandam being the VRC Oaks heroine Sandarae. She is also ancestress of the feature race winners Fleur du Chine, Tully Thunder, Sufficient, Sneetch, Black Mamba, Rios, Roman Emperor, Kildare, One Love, Spurcent, Belcentra, I Will and Sandy's Pleasure.

Tootsie wins the Mannerism

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Saturday saw a gutsy effort by Tootsie to claim one of the feature summer carnival events for mares - the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield.

Settling off the pace, the tough mare looked to be in trouble coming to the turn - a wall of horses in front of her, jockey Dwayne Dunn concerned that she would not be able to get her out in time.

Steering her out wide in the straight, Tootsie had to switch around a few pairs of heels but once clear she really knuckled down - finding the line in determined style.

Wearing down leader Be Positive to win by a long neck, Tootsie was a popular winner as favourite - punters paying heed to her excellent lead up form.

An eye-catching fast finishing second at Gr.1 level in New Zealand at her previous outing, Tootsie raced very well in Melbourne last spring - never really having much luck.

A seven times winner of over $370,000, the daughter of Pins is raced on lease from Waikato Stud by a very happy Couch family - John, Rosemary and Richard.

It was great to see John & Rosemary fly in from New Zealand for the win and they were all smiles collecting the trophy.

"She has been a wonderful mare," they enthused - looking forward to returning to Australia for Tootsie's next run at Gr.1 level in Adelaide.

A few years ago keen to race a nicely bred filly on lease, the the Couchs - who raced stakes winner Thursday's Child with us - visited Waikato Stud to see what was on offer.

Paul Moroney was with them and it was he who spotted Tootsie, liking her immediately.

"He said we wouldn't get a better filly than her and to grab her straight away," John recalled.

And they could not be happier that they did - Tootsie's career a fun filled one despite a set-back when she suffered from a bleeding attack 13 months ago.

She has been consistent since then though and on Saturday jockey Dwayne Dunn was very pleased with her - "once she got out she put her head up and just went!" he said - adding that "the win will be good for her confidence."

Hailing from the family of the Gr.1 winners Glamour Puss and Vision And Power, Tootsie increased her value as a broodmare and hopefully can further enhance it when she travels to Adelaide.

Bullet shines at Kyneton

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

He may not be very big but Shining Bullet is a nice up-and-comer who pleased us with the style of his maiden victory at Ballarat on Friday.

Settling well on the fence just behind the leaders, the still maturing three-year-old was always travelling nicely - hooking out straightening and gradually grinding down the leaders.

Still learning, Shining Bullet took a few strides to gain the lead but once there he was soft to the line - winning by nearly a length with a bit in hand.

Jockey Ben Melham was impressed - "he is a real professional," he said, "and he will only get better over more ground."

"He had the right run and he was too good - he really attacked the line well."

Michael Moroney was also pleased. "It was a good win," he said - adding that the gelding is "still a little small and weak."

"He will go the paddock now and join our Queensland team over the winter. We will start him off in lower class and see how he goes from there - a bit like Syndrome last year."

Bred by Emirates Park and purchased by Paul Moroney for $50,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale (a happy hunting ground for the stable), Shining Bullet is raced by Rupert & Cheryl Legh, Peter Barnett, David Murphy, Rick Nelson, Edmond Giacobone, Trevor McGrath, Anthony Morfea, Noel Griffin and the Gurners Bloodstock Co Syndicate.

A son of Galileo, he is out of the winning Encosta de Lago mare Belle de Lago from the prolific "Belle" family of the big race winners Belle du Jour, Perfectly Ready, Aerosmith, Star Belle, Wonder Dancer, Lord Ted, Sharscay, Asgard, Honey Belle and Casey Belle.

Tootsie heads weekend chances

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Several nice chances for the stable this weekend, headlined by quality mare Tootsie who contests the Gr.3 TBV Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Back in Melbourne for ten days, the five-year-old has settled in well since a successful trip back home to New Zealand.

Whilst she didn't win in three runs she did put in the best run of her career - a fast finishing and somewhat unlucky second in one of New Zealand's biggest races, the Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap.

Striking interference at the start, she really rocketed home over the final stages - adding value to her broodmare future. And now we hope she can further increase on that with winning black type!

"She is very well in at the weights," said a confident Michael Moroney. "And we are really happy with her. We put the blinkers back on at her last run and it has made a big difference. She will be hard to beat."

Three runners at Moonee Valley on Friday night and three nice chances there too.

Nothingbutthetruth contests the second event - the stayer's test over 3000m. He had his first go over that marathon trip a couple of weeks ago and was very good running third.

"He ran a great race," said Moroney. "The track was a bit rain affected and the rider reported that he didn't really handle it."

"The toppie will be hard to beat but he has drawn a nice gate and he has been knocking on the door."

Coming off a tough win at Sandown, Abitofado looks a top chance for a double - due to contest the fourth race at the Valley, the 2040m handicap.

"He has drawn a bit awkwardly (the outside of nine) and will need luck in running but he does like Moonee Valley."

A winner at the track this time last year, the consistent five-year-old has raced five times on the Strathayr - that win and three placings.

Also having a tricky gate to contend with is St Ives who has drawn barrier ten in the mile, race five on the programme.

"This is a nice sort of race for him," Moroney said "and he does have gate speed so he should put himself right in the race and be competitive."

Impressive winning over the same trip at Cranbourne last start, the good looking chestnut has always promised to measure up in town and this is only his second crack at metropolitan level.

Good luck to all of our owners this weekend and we hope everyone has a successful Blue Diamond Stakes day!

Steel Stilettos leads throughout

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A strong performance by the small but gutsy Steel Stilettos at Ballarat on Thrusday - the promising three-year-old jumping straight to the front and always looking the winner.

"She was a little bit aggressive out of the gates but she soon came back under me," said jockey Mark Zahra.

"She gave me a good kick at the turn and was too good for them."

Breaking her maiden in easy style at her sixth start, Steel Stilettos has alway shown good ability - in the first four at each of her runs leading up to her impressive victory.

Raced by Alan Galbraith, Steel Stilettos is an attractive daughter of Hussonet and the Desert King mare Sultry, a half sister to the Gr.3 winner Vestey.

A $75,000 Easter yearling, Steel Stilettos can also count amongst her relations the stakes winners Rutherford Eagle, Twirled, Noted, Pasta Express, Stella Maree, Grand Connection, La Chatelaine, Classy Fella, Legally Bay, Time Out, Our Planet, Gypsy Kingdom, Royal Snack, Innocent Kingdom and this stable's highly promising three-year-old Viking Hero.