IMPRESSIVE WINNING DEBUT BY EQUESTRIA

Equestria overcame difficulties to score an impressive win on debut at Echuca on Monday.

Hung up in traffic before the home turn, Patrick Moloney was forced to sit and wait before plotting a course out wide and Equestria delivered, letting down with a powerful finish to defeat Deck Of Cards going away by half a length at the finish of the De Bortoli Wines Maiden Plate (1400m).

Mike Moroney said he was not surprised Equestria won but was delighted with the manner in which the three-year-old did it.

“We knew he had real talent but his immaturity under race conditions was the question mark,” Moroney said.

“He was half a stride slow away and then needed a bit of a niggle to put himself in the race. He looked to settle into a rhythm but then needed some luck to get out.

“Patrick kept him in a rhythm and in behind and then ran a bit green around the home turn. Once he got in the clear and balanced up he flashed home to win.”

Moroney said the lack of race experience is the one query he has with Equestria.

“He’s still a bit green, and it’s a great effort to do a lot wrong and still win,” Moroney said.

“But the spring is on us pretty quick and if he’s going to be competitive in town then he’s going to have to get his manners sorted.

“I’m sure with practice he will and the main thing is he’s got the raw talent.”

Patrick Moloney echoed Moroney’s thoughts.

“He hasn’t really been in amongst them like that before and I just had to wait a bit before I could get to the outside and let him go,” Moloney said.

“Once he got in the clear and I gave him a shake up he let down like the promising horse he is.

“He’s still got a lot of improvement in him and he’s an exciting horse going forward.”

Equestria was a Paul Moroney selection from the Blue Gum Farm draft at the 2016 Melbourne Premier Sale, the son of Your Song selling for $115,000.