We look forward to saddling up four nice horses over the next couple of days, starting with two debutants at Geelong on Tuesday.

Lining up in the same race - the Geelong Australia Maiden Plate over 1200m - are two promising three-year-olds Quarterbar and Stratocracy.

Both showing good ability with "not much between them" according to Michael Moroney, the pair have displayed similar talent to Comanche Kid who won so well at debut on Sunday.

"Taking a line through him, they should both run well," Moroney said.

A $120,000 Melbourne Premier graduate by Stratum, Stratocracy is out of a full sister to the Gr.1 mare Penny Gem and Moroney is optimistic about his future - "he has thrown more to his dam sire Pentire than to Stratum so he should only improve as he matures."

Drawn nicely in barrier five, Stratocracy will be ridden by Stephen Baster. Meanwhile Nicholas Hall takes the ride on Quarterbar who also has a good gate - barrier three.

He is a son of Oratorio who caught the eye at the NZ Ready To Run sales - costing NZ$210,000.

Two of our spring carnival chances run at Sandown on Wednesday, the smart Sophrosyne (pictured) resuming in the Thomas Moule Handicap over 1200m.

Having his first run since finishing unplaced in the Sunshine Coast Guineas in early July, the four-year-old has done well since returning to Melbourne.

"His trip to Queensland was not a successful one," Moroney admitted, "but we learned that he just doesn't run out a mile and he is better the left handed way of going."

"He likes rain affected going and he should turn his form right around."

Classy mare Fairfield Flame is not so much a wet-tracker, but we are keen to get her into the Melbourne Cup and so she needs to have another run following on from her first up eye-catcher at Caulfield.

Taking her place in the Ahern's Handicap over 1600m, she will appreciate a 200m rise but even longer trips are her forte. In saying that, she is back from Saturday grade and she is Gr.2 placed.

"If she handles the heavy she'll be hard to beat," Moroney said, "as she has that touch of class."
 

The first off those is in the fourth race, the 1200 maiden - Comanche Kid making his debut.

A $45,000 Easter graduate by Danehill Dancer, Comanche Kid from barrier nine will be ridden by Mark Zahra and he has pleased us in his work.

"He is a nice horse in the making," said Michael Moroney, adding that "he has gone well in his jump outs."

Noting that whilst the bay is bred to improve with racing - being out of a Marju mare from the family of Warning, Rainbow Quest and Scenic - Moroney said that he would not be surprised if Comanche Kid ran boldly.

"He has shown us a fair big of speed and we are pretty keen on him."

Hopefully it will be a stable running double with Viallico taking his place in the following race, a 1400m Showcase.

Finishing on strongly to only just miss out on the prize in a 1300m race at Geelong first up, the son of Pins has progressed well since.

"He ran really well at his first run for us," said Moroney, "and he has trained on - we expect him to prove hard to beat."

In other stable news, we were pleased with the effort of Monaco Consul in the Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday - although he ran into plenty of trouble!

Travelling well just off the pace, he copped a couple of bumps in the straight, losing momentum but quickly getting back into stride before finishing on nicely along the rails over the final stages - finishing seventh but passing many of his rivals as they pulled up past the line.
 

An impressive debut performance by Comanche Kid at Geelong on Sunday, the promising three-year-old racing greenly but proving too strong for his rivals in the 1200m maiden.

Settling at the rear of the field, the bay did a bit wrong in running - having a good look around whilst being patiently handled by an in-form Mark Zahra.

Rounding the field from the turn, Comanche Kid was very strong down the outside - finding the line in determined style and looking to have a bit in hand winning by half a length.

"He has still got a bit to learn," Zahra reported, "but he has got a lot of ability."

"They slackened off the tempo a bit and he got a bit keen but he was too good - he won very well."

Michael Moroney was pleased to see Comanche Kid race up to expectations, having had a good opinion of the gelding for some time.

"He has always shown good natural ability," he said. "We have liked him the whole way through - he is probably one of our better three-year-olds."

Nominated for the Spring Champion Stakes and the Caulfield Guineas, Comanche Kid has been well taken care of.

"He is still pretty new," Moroney said, "he has not had a lot of practice."

A $45,000 Easter graduate selected by Paul Moroney and raced by Rupert & Cheryl Legh Racing, Ballymore Stables (Aust), Consolidated Bloodstock, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Rohan & Katherine Aujard, Geoff Fairchild and The Missusdontknow Syndicate, Comanche Kid is a son of Danehill Dancer from the family of the outstanding stallions Rainbow Quest, Warning and Scenic.

Thanks to www.slickpix.com.au for the photo.
 

We bid a fond farewell to this week to one of the Ballymore Stables' favourite gallopers - the grand old campaigner Mr Baritone.

Retired after an unplaced run at Flemington Saturday, the nine-year-old retires sound and happy after a highly successful career that saw him win eight races and over $1.2 million in stakes.

Enjoying his career highlight taking out the 2000 Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap, the handsome chestnut raced in strong company throughout his career and was rarely far away.

Raced by Ruper Legh, Tony Calabro, Peter Barnett, Harold Hansen, Noel Griffin, the Gurners Bloodstock Co (manager Andrew A Ramsden) and Michael Calman, Mr Baritone was in the first three 30 times and he won at a variety of tracks - Eagle Farm, Moonee Valley, Sandown, Randwick and Seymour.

A son of the high class Nureyev stallion Stravinsky, Mr Baritone has not only been a great racehorse for the stable, but a popular character - he will be much missed and we wish him a long and happy retirement.
 

Last in the winners circle at Matamata in October, the five-year-old was not far away in five runs during his first Victorian campaign and on Friday was having only his third run this time in.

Appreciating the step up to 2000m, the son of Galileo was always travelling well mid-field, pulling out wide at the turn and quickly sweeping to the front.

A little too easily maybe - Nothingbutthetruth putting an easy length or so on his rivals but then pricking is ears and waiting for this rivals to catch up - digging deep when they neared him.

"He is a bit of a thinker!" said jockey Mark Zahra, "I think he'd be better ridden cold with something to chase."

Picked up by Paul Moroney at the Easter sale for just $30,000, Nothingbutthetruth is one of seven winners produced by the Secretariat mare Secret Truth, also dam of the South American stakes placegetter Pleasure Secret and winners in Hong Kong, Canada, South Africa, America, New Zealand and Australia.

Secret Truth's dam is the US Gr.2 winner Truly Bound, daughter of the dual Gr.1 winner Natashka and further back this is the family of the influential stallions Mr Prospector and Seattle Slew.

Whilst still racing short of his best trip, the four-year-old has impressed the stable with both his track work and his attitude this week.

"He seems to have turned the corner," Michael Moroney enthused, "he has become more switched on as a racehorse."

Galloping in strong style on Tuesday morning, Monaco Consul impressed - "he worked as well as I have ever seen him work," Moroney said - "he has trained on really well."

Drawn nicely in barrier three in the Gr.2 Makybe Diva Stakes, Monaco Consul will again be ridden by Craig Williams.

Another horse heading towards the big spring cups is imported mare Fairfield Flame who ran so nicely at her Australian debut.

“The concern is a testing heavy track at the end of the day,” said Moroney, “and she is better over longer trips. This is a step up for her from mares class but she did run really well first up and she has trained on.”

Fairfield Flame has secured a run as emergency in the final race, the Spring Is The Season Handicap over 1700m.

A horse who will appreciate the conditions is Mr Baritone who lines up in The Sofitel over 1400m.

“His latest run was out of character,” Moroney said, referring to the nine-year-old’s latest unplaced outing at Caulfield, “but he was three and four wide for the trip. We were only going to run him this Saturday if he drew a decent gate and he has (seven). We can’t fault his work.”

Taking his place in the same race is Syndrome who is having his first run since February. Boasting a handy fresh record, he has been shaping well this time in.

“This looks a nice race for him,” Moroney said. “It is a bit stronger than what he has been up against in the past but he is well drawn and he is quite forward – we expect him to run a cheeky race.”

Earlier in the day Missing In Action makes his Australian debut in the Henry Bucks Best Dressed Stakes over 1400m.

Displaying promise during his first couple of runs in New Zealand, he is likely to improve over a longer trip but he has been showing a liking for rain affected tracks.

“If it gets to heavy and a few of the others don’t handle it he will get his chance,” Moroney said. “He is a nice stayer in the making and we will give him his chance to get to the VRC Derby.”

What an impressive performance by debutant Brazilian Pulse at Ballarat on Wednesday, the three-year-old filly simply bolting in with her maiden – a soft seven lengths the official margin.

With her ears pricked as she crossed the line, Brazilian Pulse proved to be a different class from her rivals – the ease of her victory a pleasant shock for jockey Mark Zahra.

“She surprised me a bit,” he admitted – “she was a real professional. She jumped, she travelled and in the run home she put pay to them quickly.”

“She did the job really well,” he continued, - “she has got a real future.”

Zahra later added that she was the only horse he rode all day to have show na real turn of foot in the going.

1000 Gunieas bound via the 1000 Guineas Prelude, Brazilian Pulse showed good potential winning a jump-out at Matamata before heading to Australia.

"There was a good deal of confidence about her in New Zealand," said Michael Moroney, "and I was quite impressed by her win."

A NZ $26,000 Karaka purchase for Paul Moroney, Brazilian Pulse is a daughter of the Pivotal stallion Captain Rio out of the imported mare Sharazad, a winning daughter of Tenby.

Her dam is a half sister to the US Gr.2 winner Shanawi from the family of the legendary Shergar and the ancestress of this family is the acclaimed matriarch Mumtaz Mahal.

Racing in the same colours as King Pulse, Brazilian Pulse is raced by the Lorne Bloodstock Pty Ltd Syndicate.

Thanks to www.slickpix.com for the great photo.

 

from AAP...

The Mike Moroney stable was happy with Monaco Consul's first-up effort and is looking for further improvement from the Cups prospect in Saturday's Group Two Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

A successive winner of Group One races with his victories in last year's Spring Champion Stakes and the Victoria Derby, Monaco Consul finished sixth to Shoot Out in the J J Liston Stakes (1400m) when resuming at Caulfield on August 14.

"We were very happy with the run," said stable manager Anthony Feroce.

Feroce said while Monaco Consul was in the worst part of the track in the Liston, jockey Craig Williams had been instructed to ride him that way.

"Craig was instructed to stay near the inside and ride him for luck along the fence. It wasn't his grand final," Feroce said.

"He's trained on really well and we expect him to improve on his first-up run.

"He'll appreciate the bigger track at Flemington and the mile (1600m)."

Feroce said the four-year-old's spring missions were the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and the stable rated him a better Melbourne Cup prospect.

"It depends on what happens on Saturday. His next run could be in the Underwood or we might wait and go to the Turnbull a couple of weeks after that," Feroce said

He said the stable would be happy if Monaco Consul was similarly weighted to the 54.5kg the previous year's Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider received in last year's Melbourne Cup.

"That would guarantee that he gets a start," he said.

Cups weights are released on Wednesday and the stable's other prospect, Fairfield Flame, is nominated in Saturday's Group Two Let's Elope Stakes (1400m).

The Oasis Dream six-year-old mare has won two races in New Zealand at 2830m and 2200m and was placed in the Group Two Waikato Cup (2400m) four starts back in December.

She resumed with a sixth to Mont Fleuri in a 1400m fillies and mares event at Caulfield on August 14.

Monaco Consul's sire High Chaparral impressed visitors - including Michael Moroney - at Coolmore Stud stallion parades over the weekend. He is pictured above posing for the crowd!

 

MAKYBE DIVA STAKES (1600 METRES)
Of $400000 and $5000 trophy. 1st $240000 and trophy of $5000, 2nd $72000, 3rd $36000, 4th $18000, 5th $10000, 6th $8000, 7th $8000, 8th $8000.
Standard Weight for Age. (GROUP 2).
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM
No Horse Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Handicapper
Rating
1 SHOCKING Mark Kavanagh 1 59 115
2 MASTER O'REILLY (NZ) Danny O'Brien 2 59 109
3 FIUMICINO (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 3 59 110
4 ZAVITE (NZ) Anthony Cummings 4 59 110
5 DANLEIGH Chris Waller 5 59 118
6 METAL BENDER (NZ) Chris Waller 6 59 116
7 REBEL RAIDER Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas 7 59 112
8 HEART OF DREAMS Mick Price 9 59 113
9 RED RULER (NZ) John Sargent 10 59 108
10 C'EST LA GUERRE (NZ) Robert Hickmott 11 59 108
11 VIGOR (NZ) Danny O'Brien 12 59 110
12 ALANDI (IRE) Robert Hickmott 13 59 118
13 DOCTOR FREMANTLE (GB) Lee Freedman 14 59 109
14 MOURAYAN (IRE) Robert Hickmott 15 59 107
15 SPEED GIFTED (GB) Lee Freedman 17 59 107
16 STERLING PRINCE (NZ) Wayne Hillis 18 59 102
17 BAUGHURST Bill & Symon Wilde 20 59 105
18 STORMHILL Clinton McDonald 21 59 99
19 RAFFAELLO Jim Marconi 22 59 104
20 FANJURA (IRE) Lee Freedman 23 59 101
21 LEICA LARRIKIN Richard Freyer 25 59 98
22 ABOVE AVERAGE (IRE) Lee Freedman 26 59 100
23 MY BENTLEY (NZ) Michael Kent 30 59 82
24 MONACO CONSUL (NZ) Michael Moroney 8 58.5 108
25 CHARTREUX David Hayes 16 58.5 95
26 LINTON Robert Hickmott 19 58.5 99
27 RUNDLE Robert Hickmott 27 58.5 78
28 MR CHARLIE (NZ) Peter G Moody 29 58.5 82
29 GHOSTMILK (IRE) Peter G Moody 28 57 99
30 RUN FOR NAARA John P Thompson 24 56.5 101
 

Pictured is Monaco Consul's Epsom Derby winning sire High Chaparral on parade at Coolmore Stud this week.