Fitness Key To Merion In G1 Aust Guineas
- Wednesday, 04 March 2015 07:24
Michael Moroney had his wish granted when Merion snuck into the final field for the Group One Australian Guineas on Saturday.
The trainer feared that Merion, who was 20th in the ballot order, would miss out on a start in the 1600-metre race at Flemington.
As a back-up, Moroney nominated the horse for the Randwick Guineas but the Melbourne race was always first choice.
"He's won two stakes races at Flemington before so ideally we wanted to run him in the Guineas here," Moroney said.
With two runs under his belt this campaign, Moroney believes Merion should be at his top for Saturday's race.
After finishing third at Sandown first-up, Merion was fourth to Wandjina in the C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a fortnight ago, making ground from midfield for jockey Steven Arnold.
"Steve hopped off him last time and one of the reasons he gave for his defeat was that he thought he came to the end of it in the last one hundred (metres)," Moroney said.
"He's still on the way up. We just thought the way we had to ride him last time from the draw didn't quite work out.
"He should strip as fit as we can get him for Saturday."
Moroney said Merion's performance at Flemington would determine whether he earned a trip to Sydney for The Championships.
He has been nominated for the ATC Australian Derby, the Doncaster Mile and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
There is also an option to freshen the three-year-old for the Brisbane winter carnival.
Merion is currently an $18 chance for Saturday's Group One race, behind the $3.60 favourite Kermadec who has been scratched from the Randwick Guineas.
The top three horses in Australian Guineas markets will be ridden by Hong Kong-based jockeys with Nash Rawiller to partner Kermadec, Douglas Whyte aboard Alpine Eagle ($5.50) and Wandjina ($9.50) to be ridden by Brett Prebble.
Craig Williams switches to the in-form Minnesinger for Lee and Anthony Freedman after Perth galloper Disposition was not paid-up for as a final acceptor.
Disposition, a newcomer to the Wez Hunter stable, suffered a minor injury when he got loose and slipped over at Hunter's stables and took some skin off a hind leg.
With a full field of 16 in the Guineas there will be representation from Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
