Trainer Mike Moroney has Caulfield Guineas aspirations for Sabrage after the two-year-old made an impressive debut at Caulfield.
The Charge Forward colt is the second spring hope Moroney has unearthed in a less than a week after another two-year-old African Pulse also made winning debut at Sandown last Wednesday.
“Both are very nice horses but this one (Sabrage) is more of a miler whereas African Pulse is a sprinter,” said Moroney’s racing manager Anthony Feroce.
“We are probably a month behind with our two-year-olds this year but we have got runs into these two and we are looking forward to the spring with them.”
Ridden by Lisa Cropp, Sabrage drew gate one in the Swettenham Stud Handicap (1200m) and, despite a betting drift from $9 to $15, was in the firing line all the way.
He cornered in front and was strong at the finish holding off Gig ($14) to score by a long neck with Highly Recommended ($5) a half head away third after being slow to begin.
“Michael has always had high opinion of this horse (Sabrage) and he is going to go out now and come back in the spring, hopefully for the Caulfield Guineas,” Feroce said.
He said African Pulse, who was once considered a Golden Slipper contender, would join Sabrage in the spelling paddock after next Saturday when he will compete over 1000m at Flemington.
Moroney trained Sabrage’s Group Three-winning dam Galroof who was second in the Doomben Cup and the Queensland Derby.
Sabrage cost $200,000 as a yearling at last year’s Sydney’s Easter yearling sale and is one of Galroof’s five live foals.
Moroney bought Sabrage’s half-sister, by Hussonet, at the Melbourne Premier Sale this year for $30,000.
AAP TURF rw/wb
