War Machine concocted an elixir none of the treatment Mike Moroney is receiving in hospital can compare with when the progressive three-year-old won Saturday’s $200,000 Bendigo Guineas.
The ever-improving gelding completed a winning hat-trick when he proved too classy for his rivals in the 1400-metre Listed event.
The victory came around a week after his trainer was hospitalised, where he remains, undergoing treatment for issues that will keep him away from the track for several weeks.
Moroney’s long-time racing manager Anthony Feroce said the result should bring a smile to the face of everyone associated with the trans-Tasman stable.
“The team has been terrific, everyone at the stables, everyone back in New Zealand, they’ve been head down, bum up,” Feroce said.
“It’s a huge thrill, Mike would be so happy. It’s just a great tonic for everybody.
“Thanks for all the wishes that we’re receiving about Mike. He’s hanging in there, he’s going really well, so hopefully we see him back at the track very soon.”
War Machine ($4.20) continued his progression with a two-length win over Elphinstone ($18), with Modown ($17) a length away third in the Bendigo event.
The son of Toronado had just one placing, in a Geelong maiden, from two starts in his initial campaign but has strung together three wins this campaign.
Declan Bates was aboard for the previous four starts, but Jordan Childs took over with Bates in Sydney to partner Pride Of Jenni to a stunning Queen Elizabeth Stakes win, and Childs was taken with the performance.
“He was a little bit keen during those middle stages just because they were going so slow, but then when I was able to get that run up the inside he really exploded through and, probably the last 100 metres, he had his ears pricked and was looking around,” Childs said.
“He’s not a finished product yet, but he’s definitely got a lot of ability there and I think he’ll just keep progressing as he gets more racing into him.”
