NEW PREPARATIONS BEGINNING AT BALLARAT ON SUNDAY

Four runners heading to Ballarat this afternoon aiming to boost the stables winning total for the season.

Lady In The Sky and Opoho Dreaming both run in race four, the Fillies and Mares benchmark 64 handicap over 1400m with Tayla Childs aboard Lady In The Sky and Jake Noonan riding Opoho Dreaming.

It is the first start for Lady In The Sky following a lengthy break and Mike Moroney is happy with the way the Savabeel mare has come back.

“She’s a smart staying mare and this is a nice starting point for her,” Moroney said.

“She looks terrific and I’m happy with the way she has trained up for this race today. She’s clearly better over further and this run today will bring her on a lot so I’ll be happy to see her running through the line and finishing it off.”

It is the second start this preparation for Opoho Dreaming who raced handy before getting tired late when resuming at Pakenham 18 days ago.

“She’s trained on nicely since and has drawn to advantage in barrier five,” Moroney said.

“I must say I’m surprised the track is listed as a heavy (9) but she won on a heavy track so it should not be a concern.

She might still need this however, it’s not a big field and from her draw she should be there for the right run on speed and will be disappointed if she doesn’t run well.”

Daniel Stackhouse is aboard Laybuy (pictured) in race six, the benchmark 64 handicap over 2000m.

“He’s racing well and made up a lot of ground in the home straight last start at Warrnambool where he was unlucky I thought,” Moroney said.

“He’s holding his condition well and has trained on well. It looks a handy enough race for this class with five last start winners but with ordinary luck I’m expecting our horse to be hard to beat.”

Whittington Stone rounds out the day in race eight, the benchmark70 handicap over 1200m with Jake Noonan aboard and jumping from barrier five.

It is the first start this preparation for Whittington Stone who has pleased in recent jumpouts.

“He’s done well from the break and has come back stronger,” Moroney said. “I’m happy with the way he’s trained up for today, I’d like to think the track will have dried a bit by the time his race comes around.

“There looks to be a bit of speed in the race so he may end up taking a trail behind the leaders. This is a nice race for him to kick off in and I’m sure he will run well.’