Trainer Mike Moroney has mixed feelings about another wet weekend as he attempts to win the Group Three Eclipse Stakes with Our Tigress and Viking Hero at Sandown.The heavy rain forecast would favour Our Tigress while Moroney is convinced that Viking Hero is a superior horse on firm ground."The more rain we get the better for her (Our Tigress)," Moroney said."If we get the rain they say we are going to get it will bring her right into it and take the other one (Viking Hero) out of it."Moroney's

Trainer Mike Moroney has mixed feelings about another wet weekend as he attempts to win the Group Three Eclipse Stakes with Our Tigress and Viking Hero at Sandown.

The heavy rain forecast would favour Our Tigress while Moroney is convinced that Viking Hero is a superior horse on firm ground.

"The more rain we get the better for her (Our Tigress)," Moroney said.

"If we get the rain they say we are going to get it will bring her right into it and take the other one (Viking Hero) out of it."

Moroney's summation of his chances on face value is puzzling given Viking Hero's placings on heavy tracks at his last two starts at Caulfield and Flemington.

After placing third to Dysphonia first-up on dead ground at Sandown in September, Moroney said Viking Hero "struggled" through the mud when a length third to Preventable at Caulfield on October 13.

He was beaten a similar margin last start when second to The Big Steel on a heavy track at Flemington.

"Since we gelded him after his last campaign his three runs this time in have been terrific, but the ground hasn't suited him his last two," Moroney said.

"If he'd got good ground his last two runs he probably would have won."

Viking Hero's only victory is a Benalla maiden but he lost last year's Myer Fashion Stakes on protest on Oaks day at Flemington and was placed in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate in the autumn.

Our Tigress' form is harder to line up as she won twice in New Zealand before campaigning in Queensland last winter and having three runs in Melbourne this spring.

Her odds with TAB Sportsbet are inflated at $41 compared to Viking Hero at $13 but she could end up being the better chance.

After a first-up fourth to Fabulist at Sandown she was a close second to Royal Commands in the Carsales.com.au Classic at Caulfield on October 13 before being poleaxed last start in the Group Three Tesio Stakes at Moonee Valley.

"Her best run was in the Listed race at Caulfield on a wet track when she was second and she is going well," Moroney said.

He said her run at Moonee Valley should be forgotten.

"She got badly interfered with and basically taken out of the race," he said.

Craig Newitt rides Our Tigress while Mark Zahra will partner Viking Hero.

Meanwhile, Mornington trainer Matt Laurie is banking on a soft track for The Big Steel who faces his toughest in the Eclipse.

The grey scored the best of his four wins from 10 starts on a heavy track on Oaks day when he beat Viking Hero.

"The forecast is probably in our favour," Laurie said.