Trainer Mike Moroney believes a 2500m-benchmark race at The Valley is the next logical step for imported stayer Mirimar after two midweek city wins from his past three starts.
Mirimar won by three-quarters of a length as the short-priced favourite over 2400m on a soft track at Sandown at his most recent start on July 10 and will run next in Saturday’s $135,000 race, also at benchmark-78 level.
“He’s a nice winter stayer,” Moroney said.
“He got left in front a long way out last start but stuck it out really well and he always travelled like the winner.
“We’ve sat back and waited for this race. We just thought it looked the obvious race for him and it’s worth a bit of prize money.”
The Valley was rated a soft (5) on Monday and Moroney does not want to track to dry out too much.
“He just wants a bit of give in the ground but he should get that I would think,” he said.
Alburq is nominated for Saturday’s 1000m-race for three-year-old colts and geldings but Moroney is looking to instead save him and kick off his preparation in a maiden race before stepping him back up in class.
Along with Mirimar in the 2500m-benchmark 78, Moroney is planning to run import Radipole on Saturday.
He is hoping Radipole can turn in an improved showing having not won in three starts this campaign including a last-start eighth over 1600m at Flemington.
“We gave him a nice long break to be around at this time of the year and he always looked as if this time of year should really suit him as far as strength of fields went,” Moroney said.
“He ran fifth in a (Group One) Cantala Stakes as a younger horse. So we were expecting him to go a bit better than what he has.”
Radipole steps up in distance to 2040m in Saturday’s Quality Handicap.
