Trainer Mike Moroney will take Mr Marathon Man to The Valley for a familiarisation gallop in a bid to maximise the import’s chances to win the Group Two Feehan Stakes.
Mr Marathon Man is set to run in Saturday’s 1600m weight-for-age Feehan Stakes at The Valley and Moroney believes taking the gelding to the course to gallop on Tuesday is good preparation.
“We don’t know if Moonee Valley is really his track but we’ll find out,” Moroney said.
“I’m going to take him there for a bit of a look tomorrow.
“Probably with some horses it is important and he is not straightforward so I wouldn’t mind him having a bit of a look around there first.”
Moroney said Mr Marathon Man had a pretty good hit-out at Flemington on Saturday morning so Tuesday’s gallop would not be as strong.
“I’ll take Strike Force to gallop with him. He is a good old Moonee Valley horse and knows his way around, so he can just cart him around.”
A host of horses entered for Saturday’s meeting are scheduled to work at The Valley on Tuesday.
The winner of the Feehan secures a Cox Plate ballot exemption if nominated for the $5 million Cox Plate on October 26.
Of the 19 Feehan nominations, 16 hold Cox Plate entries including Mr Marathon Man.
“It would be something we’d definitely have to give a bit of thought to if he happened to get that ticket,” Moroney said.
Mr Marathon Man scored his first Australian win in an open handicap over 1600m at Sandown in June before racing flat when unplaced in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington next start.
He returned from a freshen-up with a pleasing fifth in the Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17, beaten just under five lengths by star mare Mystic Journey.
“We were really happy with his run,” Moroney said.
“Probably the proven weight-for-age horses beat him home.
“It was good enough for us to want to soldier on into the spring a bit longer.”
Mr Marathon Man, to again be ridden by Damien Oliver, was at $15 in an early all-in market for the Feehan on Monday with last year’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Homesman the $4.50 favourite ahead of his stablemate Yucatan ($6).
