Mike Moroney is hoping Tivaci can break through at the top level in the All Aged Stakes
There are still four Group One races on the radar for classy horse Tivaci before he heads to stud but trainer Mike Moroney is hoping he can break through at the top level sooner rather than later.
Tivaci has been placed twice in Group One races this season while at his most recent start he had to settle for fourth in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.
On Saturday Tivaci, who will stand at Waikato Stud in New Zealand later this year, will again aim for his first Group One win in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Moroney is also planning to take Tivaci to Queensland where there are three Group One sprints in the next couple of months.
“He’s got three cracks in Queensland,” Moroney said.
“Hopefully the sooner he can get one out of the way, the better.
“He’s only had three runs back this preparation so he’s got it all in front of him this campaign. We’ve planned it that way.”
Tivaci steps up to 1400m for the first time this campaign in the All Aged Stakes and Moroney has been pleased with the way he has trained on since the TJ Smith.
“It has always looked his best trip,” Moroney said.
“He won the C S Hayes Stakes over 1400 metres last season but there really hasn’t been the right races for him at 1400.
“We’re quite happy to step him back up to that distance.”
Tivaci could not match the breathtaking finish unleashed by Chautauqua to win his third-straight TJ Smith on April 1 but Moroney felt his charge did a good job to rally in the straight and still run home for fourth.
There is no Chautauqua in Saturday’s race although TJ Smith Stakes runner-up English is among the All Aged opponents as the mare strives to win the weight-for-age race for the second-straight year.
English is on the second line of betting with Luxbet.com.au at $4.20 behind multiple Group One winner Le Romain while Tivaci is an $8 chance.
“I was pretty worried before they turned for home in the TJ Smith because it looked as if he was losing ground out wide on the worst of the ground,” Moroney recalled.
“But he rallied really well and picked up and ran home well.
“It was a good run.
“You’d have to think stepping up to 1400 metres he shouldn’t be far away.”
