Improving three-year-old Act Of Valour is in line to chase back-to-back Moonee Valley wins on Saturday.
The gelding is nominated for the 3YO Handicap (1600m) and trainer John Moloney says there is a good chance he will take his place on a seven-day back-up having come through his win in fine fettle.
“So we’ll just see if that continues,” he said.
“It’s up to the horse to continue to go forward and if he does, that’s fine.”
Act Of Valour has won three of his six starts with Saturday’s win at Moonee Valley his first metropolitan success.
The son of Excellent Art formed part of a winning treble for Moloney’s nephew, apprentice Patrick Moloney.
Act of Valour stepped up from 1200 to 1500 metres for the first time and after settling better than midfield, strode clear in the straight to beat Manhattan Avenue by 1-3/4 lengths.
Moloney said he also decided to enter Act of Valour for this Saturday’s race because there was not another suitable race for a month.
“He wouldn’t have had a race until Flemington in a month’s time, so he may have this run and go out for a break,” Moloney said.
“He’s not a horse that needs over-racing at this point of his career, so there is a chance he’ll go to this race and then go for a spell and come back for the late spring.”
Act Of Valour is a grandson of 1998 Caulfield Cup runner-up Lisa’s Game and Moloney believes he is now getting to distances that suit.
Patrick Moloney has ridden Act of Valour in all his starts and is expected to continue that association on Saturday.
He moved to fourth on the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with his first Saturday city treble and is five wins clear of Regan Bayliss in the race for the apprentices’ title.
