SAME RACE RUNNERS TONIGHT

Rainbow Thief and Keats compete for us tonight at Moonee Valley and both in same race.

Thomas Stockdale is riding Rainbow Thief and Josh Richards is aboard Keats to reduce the weight in race six, the benchmark 78 handicap over 1600 metres.

Rainbow Thief has finally drawn a good barrier to the delight of Mike Moroney.

“He’s as well as we can get him and the claim has him on an attractive weight for a horse of his ability,” Mike said.

“He’s finally drawn nicely and comes into barrier three after scratchings.

“He’s had the three runs back so he’s fit enough and if he produced his best than he will be hard to beat so it’s up to him now.”

Keats (pictured) is resuming as a gelding after an unplaced run in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap and he too has drawn nicely in five with the scratchings.

“He had a nice break after we gelded him and we’ve taken advantage of the claim to help him weight-wise,” Mike said.

“He’ll improve on what he does tonight but he’s done enough to be competitive.

“He’s got soft track form in Ireland so that should not be an issue. If he can jump with them we will endeavour to ride him forward on the speed - that’s how he raced in Ireland at a good level so he gets a chance to do that tonight.”