Ex-kiwi trainer Mike Moroney believes it might be another New Zealand horseman now domiciled in Australia who stands between himself and an overdue Caloundra Cup win.
Melbourne-based Moroney will saddle up Ipswich Cup winner Shenzhou Steeds in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) but rates the Craig Ritchie-trained Roi D’Jeu as the horse to beat in a race certain to be run in testing conditions.
A Moroney-trained runner has finished in the minor placings in the past three Caloundra Cups with Tinseltown third last year and second in 2010, while Deraismes was third in 2009.
The complexion of this year’s Sunshine Coast feature has changed with the 83mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
“It’s going to be his biggest test,” Moroney said of race favourite Shenzhou Steeds.
“He’s unbeaten up here (in Queensland) but he’s stepping to a mile and a half (2400m) for the first time, he’s got a fair bit of weight and the track is fairly heavy.
“It will be interesting.
“He’s won on slow before but never in this sort of ground.”
Moroney’s concern is not so much the heavy rating but the combination of the track condition, the gelding’s 58kg impost and the unknown of the 2400m.
“It’s going to be a pretty big task taking into account all those three things – the heavy ground, his first time at the trip and his weight,” the trainer said.
Shenzhou Steeds has been installed the $2.60 favourite in the field of 11 ahead of Roi D’Jeu at $4.
Roi D’Jeu, who is trained in Sydney by Craig Ritchie, is a 2400m winner in New Zealand and slugged it out with Adroitly when a close second in heavy conditions over 3200m in the Stayers’ Cup at Rosehill two weeks ago.
“I thought Roi D’Jeu would be the hardest to beat,” Moroney said.
“He’s a proven stayer, handles wet ground and is well-weighted (55.5kg).”
Shenzhou Steeds took out the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas at the corresponding meeting last year and improved his Queensland record to four wins from four starts with a half-length Ipswich Cup win on June 16.
