Michael Moroney’s untapped import Glass Harmonium is out to show whether their Brisbane Winter Carnival form can hold up against the likes of Caulfield Cup favourite Lights Of Heaven and boom WA galloper Playing God when they resume at Flemington this Saturday, kicking off a 2011 Cox Plate campaign.
Verglas five-year-old Glass Harmonium proved to be one of Moroney’s best acquisitions when they ran four times for four placings during the Queensland winter carnival last season.
On debut they matched Chris Waller’s superstar import My Kingdom Of Fife stride for stride in a thrilling Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) before finishing a quarter length away second.
Their next start was equally impressive when they came within a quarter length of Scenic Shot and My Kingdom Of Fife to finish third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2020m), before Glass Harmonium broke their maiden status down under with a romping two length victory over Shoot Out in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m).
Their last start was a second to Gai Waterhouse’s former Kiwi galloper Tullamore in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) on June 11, after which they were turned out for a short break to prepare for the riches of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
That spring carnival assault kicks off on Saturday, Glass Harmonium to answer the question of whether their strong winter form in Queensland can be bought to the Victorian spring features when they race first-up in the $300,000 Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
“He is an import with a turn of foot, a bit of zip, and that gives you confidence,” Moroney said.
Glass Harmonium is one of 16 acceptors for the 2011 Makybe Diva Stakes, the start-studded field lead by Peter Moody’s talented mare Lights Of Heaven.
Also well-backed in the future Caulfield Cup 2011 odds at Luxbet, Lights Of Heaven is at a questionably short price of $1.70 to take out the Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday.
Occupying the second line of betting for Flemington Race 6 is Glass Harmonium, Luxbet paying $5.50 for them to upset Lights Of Heaven.
“Moody’s mare ran a very good race behind Whobegotyou first-up (when second in the PB Lawrence Stakes) so there can be no query on the form in the Makybe Diva,” Moroney conceded.
Drawn in barrier six and due to be ridden by Kiwi rider Lisa Cropp, Glass Harmonium will be giving Moroney an early indication of whether the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 is indeed the race for them.
“Of course we are guessing a bit, but I’ll be surprised if Glass Harmonium doesn’t run some sort of a race on Saturday,” Moroney said.
“He’s never run short of 1800 metres first-up, so the 1600 metres is the shortest trip he’s been at but I’m still confident he can measure up.”
Today Glass Harmonium was one of 163 nominations taken for the 2011 Melbourne Cup, but Moroney said the Cox Plate was shaping up as a more suitable option at this stage.
“I’d say he’s more a Cox Plate horse than a Melbourne Cup horse,” Moroney said.
Current Cox Plate betting markets at Luxbet have Glass Harmonium rated a $26 chance, this price sure to firm if they race competitively in the Makybe Diva Stakes.
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