In the same week the John Moloney-trained Dornier won the Listed VRC St Leger, two-year-old Indernile will try to add another stakes win for the prominent Victorian racing family.
Indernile is trained by John’ brother Gerard Moloney and will be ridden by Gerard’s son Patrick in Saturday’s Listed Thoroughbred Club Cup (1200m) for two-year-olds at Caulfield.
The colt ran home for an eye-catching third in the Blue Diamond colts and geldings Preview (1000m) on debut in January before a midfield finish in the Prelude at his only other start.
His preparation for his return included a barrier trial at Cranbourne on heavy ground last Friday in which he finished second to the John McArdle-trained Doubt I’m Dreaming, the odds-on favourite for Saturday’s race after an impressive debut win.
“He’s in good order,” Gerard Moloney said.
“He had a trial at Cranbourne and went really well. His recovery was really good from the trial and he’s a really nice quality colt.
“Obviously there’s big wraps on John McArdle’s horse in the race and it has drawn a bit better than us.
“We’ve drawn a bit tricky which makes it a bit harder but I don’t think the (rain-affected) ground will worry him.”
Moloney believes wide draws have played against Indernile at his only two starts and after three early scratchings he has barrier seven of 10.
“I’m sure when he draws a nice barrier he’ll be able to take up a closer position,” he said.
“I’m hopeful that he can run well but it looks like McArdle’s horse might be the stumbling block, I’d say, if he’s as good as what they’re talking about.”
Moloney was pleased with Indernile’s trial against Doubt I’m Dreaming with the colt wearing heavy shoes rather than race plates.
“But I thought that it (Doubt I;m Dreaming) had me covered pretty well,” he said.
Moloney said the aim would be to give Indernile one or two starts before another short break with a view to the spring three-year-old features.
“You live in dreams but that’s what you’re hoping,” he said.
“You’ve got to have some sort of rough plan.”
