Mike Moroney has his sights set on a first Australian Guineas success after confirming his New Zealand-based gelding Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is poised to make the trip to Melbourne this autumn.
Pendragon almost fell after slipping on the home turn during last Saturday’s Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie, but after recovering to finish second, Moroney said he feels he is the right horse to aim up at the $1 million Group One over 1600m at Flemington on March 2.
“He was like many that lost his footing,” Moroney said on Tuesday from the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
“If you watch the replay turning for home, he almost fell and Mark (Zahra) thought he was going to drop right out when it happened, but he picked himself right up and fought on bravely.
“He was beaten by pretty good filly (Orchestral) and I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger (James) didn’t bring her to Australia from what we’ve seen.
“I think he’s better left-handed. Mark said he was a little bit on the one rein going right-handed, although he’s already won right-handed before. But he’s just more tractable left-handed.”
Sportsbet has Pendragon marked a $17 chance for the Group One classic at Flemington on March 2 in a market where fellow New Zealand three-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) is the early favourite after stringing together seven wins in a row at home to start his career.
Moroney said it was obvious from an early age that Pendragon was good enough to chase such a race as the Australian Guineas.
“He’s a pretty talented horse,” he said. “We liked him enough as a two-year-old to throw him in the deep end in a Stakes race early in his career when we knew he wasn’t really a two-year-old type.
“He’s always shown any amount of talent and now he’s gotten stronger and learned the craft, I am sure he’s going to be up to it.”
Moroney said the Australian Guineas will not necessarily be his final run as a three-year-old.
“I’d like to think that we could get a bit more racing out of him at three but keeping in mind he’s got a trip over there (Australia) and that might be it,” Moroney said.
“But we will see. He’s a nice, strong horse and he looked in great order the other afternoon.”