The Moloney clan will get a better guide as to where impressive debut winner Express Class stands in the pecking order when he contests a Stakes race at Caulfield.
Trainer Gerard Moloney and his jockey son Patrick Moloney produced Express Class to win a two-year-old handicap at Sandown on the final day of the 2024/25 season last month and have bitten the bullet by electing to head to the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Patrick Moloney said he and his father had been of the belief that Express Class had that X-factor before his Sandown debut, but had been put off by the perceived strength of the contest.
As a result, Express Class went around as a $31 chance in betting but powered home up the Sandown straight to register a half-length victory.
“We always knew we had a nice horse as he had shown as a fair bit,” Moloney said.
“But with the opposition, and the raps on the opposition, we would have ideally avoided that race, but there was no other option for a horse that was ready to kick off his campaign.
“He went into that race and we were expecting him to run well but probably not to the extent that he did because of the hype on the opposition.”
Moloney said the rise in grade from his debut win at a midweek meeting at Sandown to Stakes level would be a good measuring stick for the recently turned three-year-old.
However, Moloney is aware that the three-year-old is giving away experience to his rivals.
“This will enable us to line him up in the pecking order,” Moloney said.
“The opposition are on their second and third preparations, and he’s on his first, so taking that into account, he’s got to make a big step up.
“He was impressive when he won and he’s a horse that is only going to improve as time goes on.
“He’s going to be better product come the autumn and what he’s doing now is a bonus, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong since his Wednesday run at Sandown.
“He will go there in good order. He’s just been kept ticking over. He hasn’t been setting the track on fire at home, or anything like that.
“He’s pretty fit and ready to go second-up, but he’s going to need to raise the bar again on Saturday, that’s for sure.”
