THERE were some sizeable predictions for the upcoming spring carnival after important trials were held in NSW and Queensland yesterday, but none were bigger than that of trainer Mike Moroney, who has his sights set on one of the world's most famous races, reports The Age.It says: Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul ran second in a trial on the Sunshine Coast's cushion track yesterday to begin a spring campaign that Moroney believes could earn him a shot at next year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe i
THERE were some sizeable predictions for the upcoming spring carnival after important trials were held in NSW and Queensland yesterday, but none were bigger than that of trainer Mike Moroney, who has his sights set on one of the world's most famous races, reports The Age.
It says: Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul ran second in a trial on the Sunshine Coast's cushion track yesterday to begin a spring campaign that Moroney believes could earn him a shot at next year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
''It's probably a big call but he's a high-class stayer and if he can prove himself in the big handicaps in Melbourne this spring, then the Arc is the type of race he could run very well in,'' Moroney said. ''He's a stallion with a stallion's pedigree and international form added to what he's done over here already would make him one stallion in demand, that's for sure.''
Monaco Consul won the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney and the Victoria Derby at Flemington last spring but had problems on his return to racing and only hit his best form at the end of the Sydney carnival in April. Moroney said Monaco Consul was likely to begin his spring campaign in the group 2 Liston Stakes at Caulfield next month. He will run in the Caulfield and Melbourne cups, with Moroney making a call on a Cox Plate start closer to the race.
Moroney will be keeping an eye on Melbourne racing this weekend and hopes his consistent stakes performer Mr Baritone can round off the season in style in the group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.