A BIG SATURDAY FOR BALLYMORE

A big day for Ballymore Stables with 10 runners at Flemington and Geelong at the end of Cup week.

Chapada, Harlech, Nerve Not Verve, Rainbow Thief, Shelby Cobra and Tofane run at Flemington with Bellows, Hello Sunshine, Our Birdsong and Wham heading to Geelong.

Shelby Cobra is the first to go at Flemington in race two, the Listed Amanda Elliott Springtime Stakes over 1400m with Ben Melham riding.

“He’s a horse we’ve always had a good opinion of,” Moroney said.

“He’s drawn the outside and it looks a race with a bit of speed in it but we’ll be riding him back and getting him to relax. It’s a big rise in class for him but I think he’s up to it and a great winning chance.”

Last start Benalla Cup winner Harlech runs in race three, the Group 3 Chatham Stakes over 1400m with Ben Melham in the saddle.

“He’s done really well since his last start and drawn nicely in two - there looks plenty of speed in it so he should get a nice sit just off them,” Moroney said.

“It’s an even looking field and I’d have preferred him over 1600m but if they get along at a silly speed then he’s capable of getting over the top of them.

Rainbow Thief is in race four, the Nova 100 Trophy over 1600m with Daniel Stackhouse aboard.

“He needs a little bit of luck from his middle draw but if he can get in and get some cover he’s a real chance,” Moroney said.

“The rail is out a bit and we’ll need to ride him to the pattern but he’s fit and well and provided he can get some luck then he’s definitely in the race with a chance.”

Chapada runs in race five, the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600m with Daniel Stackhouse riding.

“I’m really happy with the way he’s going,” Moroney said. “This looks a nice race for him and the opposition is solid as you would expect.

“He’s come through his Caulfield Cup run in good order, I’d like to think he can hold up for a while and then come with one run in the straight and I think he’s a good winning chance.”

Tofane(pictured) runs in the Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic over 1200m with Jye McNeil to ride.

“She’s done well since getting back from Sydney,” Moroney said. “From barrier two she should be able to get some cover.

“She’s in alright at weight-for-age and with luck in running I’m confident she’ll be hard to beat and it will be no surprise to me to see her win.”

Nerve Not Verve runs in race seven, the Group 2 Matriarch Classic over 2000m with Michael Dee aboard.

“She’s drawn out a tad but she’s well-weighted and this is the race we’ve aimed her at,” Moroney said.

“She’s worked up well and with the right sort of run I can see her figuring in the finish.”

At Geelong we have Jake Noonan aboard all our runners, Hello Sunshine the first to go in race two, the Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate over 1112m.

“She’s drawn one from the outside in a race with a little bit of form in it,” Moroney said.

“If she jumps then we’ll likely press forward. She’s fit and as well as we can get - if she runs up to her work she’ll be right in it.”

Our Birdsong is in race four, the Fillies and Mares benchmark 64 Handicap over 1412m.

“We’ve taken the blinkers off her - she’s had them on for a long time now and she’s been relaxing fin without them in her jumpouts so we thought we’d change it up a bit,” Moroney said.

“She’s got a little bit of weight but looking at the opposition if she runs up to her New Zealand form she should be hard to beat.”

Bellows is in race six, the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1512m.

“He’s drawn nicely and this gives us a chance to ride him a bit handier,” Moroney said.

“His work has been good and with ordinary luck I expect him to be hard to beat.”

Wham runs in race seven, the Ballan Cup over 1512m.

“He’s another one drawn awkwardly but he looks a lot better in himself,” Moroney said.

“I think he’ll take some benefit from today’s race but if he is anywhere near his best then we know he’s good enough to win it.”

[07 Nov 20]

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