Mike Moroney heads to Eagle Farm on Saturday with three of the top chances in the time honoured Brisbane Cup.
Viking Hero is one of three Mike Moroney runners set for the Brisbane Cup
Moroney will saddle up Glass Harmonium along with Tinseltown and Viking Hero in the 2400m Group Two event.
Glass Harmonium goes into the race after a dominant performance in the Eagle Farm Cup, which has seen him come up as an even money favourite.
“He travelled very nicely in the Eagle Farm Cup, and when Lisa (Cropp) loomed up to them at the 800m mark I knew he was going to be hard to beat.” Moroney said.
Glass Harmonium travelled just off the pace in the Eagle Farm Cup, in what was a change in tactics from his days racing England.
“He hasn’t raced on the speed a lot. He was very often ridden cold when he was in England, but I think he can go forward if there is a lack of speed in the race,” said Moroney.
Moroney also dismissed claims that Glass Harmonium would be susceptible on the quick back up.
“This is his first time coming off the quick back up, but I think he’ll handle it OK. He’s come through the race well and put in some good work this morning. He gets in nicely at the weights too which is a plus.” Moroney said.
Moroney also saddles up Tinseltown, who will be reunited with Jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who was injured after falling from Tinseltown in the Sydney Cup in April.
Moroney said that the New Zealand galloper would be a dangerous commodity with just 53.5kg on his back.
Tinseltown finished a gallant second to Shuffle the Cash last start in the Premier’s Cup, and interestingly, in his start before that he finished third in a two mile hurdle event in New Zealand.
The third of Moroney’s Brisbane Cup entries is four year old gelding Viking Hero.
Moroney said that the decision to geld the son of multiple Group One winner Elvstroem was definitely the correct one as the four year old has come back a much improved horse.
“He’s going terrific. He’s really come of age now. He’s a completely different horse since we made the decision to geld him. I think he’ a horse on the rise, and could be the big improver in the race.” Moroney said.
Moroney is sure to have mixed feelings if the forecast rain arrives at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Moroney said that rain would certainly take the shine off Glass Harmonium but that it would probably help the chances of Tinseltown and Viking Hero.
Moroney also said that forecast rain was unlikely to affect the chances of his Queensland Derby contender Quarterbar.
Moroney added the blinkers to Quarterbar for his last start, and despite the fact that he was able to win, he has made the decision to remove them.
“We put the blinkers back on him and found that he raced a little erratically. We have just found that he is a different horse if we leave them off.” Moroney said.
Moroney went on to say that he was pleased with the horses work and that he will definitely be among the on pace runners in the Derby.
“He looks absolutely sensational. He’ll certainly be up on the pace and he’ll definitely get the distance. Plus I can’t see rain having an effect on him.”
Quarterbar will again be ridden by Kiwi hoop Chad Ormsby.
Quarterbar is currently quoted at $21.00 for the Group One Queensland Derby.
Glass Harmonium will start as $1.90 favourite for Moroney in the Brisbane Cup, while Tinseltown is listed as a $10.00 chance and Viking Hero is the outsider of the Moroney trio at $21.00.
Moroney also confirmed that sprinter King Pulse would be spelled after two less than impressive runs during the Brisbane winter carnival, saying that the horse had failed to come up at all.
