Trainer Mike Moroney is hoping to have two runners in next Tuesday’s $6.2 million Melbourne Cup (3200m). He already has new stable import Voleuse De Coeurs firmly in the field, and he’s looking to win Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Lexus Stakes (2500m) with either former German stayer Araldo, or Garud. Both horses need to win the race to get into the Cup field.
“We had a good look at running Araldo in the Geelong Cup, but figured even if he won it, and got a 1kg penalty, he still wouldn’t have made the field, so we’ve decided to put all the eggs in the Lexus basket and try and win his way into the field,” Moroney told Racing Network this morning.
“And we’ll do the same thing with Garud.
"We were pleased with his run at Caulfield and we think he’s just looking for further now,” he said.
Araldo hasn’t won since winning (on protest) the Bart Cummings at Flemington a month ago, over subsequent Herbert Power Handicap winner Sea Moon.
“We had a few muscle issues with Araldo after he won at Flemington, but he’s fine now and I’m expecting him to run really well in the Lexus,” he said.