Seven-year-old raider Baller will line up at Eagle Farm on Saturday hoping to rewrite history by capturing his third consecutive Group 2 Moreton Cup.
He has not won since September last year in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality when beating home Roch ‘N’ Horse and Swats That.
He only beat home two runners in the Group 2 Victory Stakes last month, but trainer Tony Gollan has been impressed with the horse’s prep and is confident in his chances this weekend.
“It’s a different kind of preparation for him,” Gollan said.
“He gets in half a kilo more than he did last year but we are super happy with him.
“His work has been terrific lately and he is right up at the mark ready for the Moreton Cup.”
Last year, the gelded son of High Chaparral had a great run in transit from barrier three and was victorious by one length under Hugh Bowman.
2023 Moreton Cup replay
Winner: Baller
He has drawn barrier seven this year with Mark Zahra booked to ride.
Prince Of Boom, out of the Rob Heathcote yard, will start favourite from barrier four following a victory in the Listed Ascot Handicap and a third-placing in the Group 2 Victory Stakes from his three starts this prep.
He is looking to improve off a sixth-placing in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 last start.
The Godolphin powerhouse also prepares two hopes in Gravina and Athelric, who will both serve up challenges over the 1200m but have drawn gates 12 and 13.
It will be five-year-old Gravina’s first look at the Eagle Farm track, backing up off a second-placing in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes.
Stablemate Athelric makes it his second stepout at the Brisbane track, after winning there under Bowman in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes in June last year over the 1100m journey.
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