Melbourne trainer Mike Moroney is banking on the talents of jockey Steven Arnold to steer Wall Street back into the winner’s circle in the Group 1 $500,000 TAB Touch.Mobi – Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot tomorrow.
Wall Street has not won since the Emirates Stakes in 2010. Photo by: Taron Clarke
Wall Street hasn’t saluted since winning the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during the 2010 Melbourne Spring Carnival and tomorrow’s task hasn’t been made any easier after the eight year old came up with the horror gate of thirteen.
Arnold is back board Wall Street after finishing fifth to Happy Trails in the Group 1 $1m Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 10 two starts ago and Moroney has full faith in the talented rider to overcome the disadvantage at the barriers.
“It’s going to be tricky but in saying that I think we’ve got the right rider on him,” Moroney said.
“If there is anyone in Australia who can navigate the right passage from that draw I think Steve is certainly up amongst the best at doing that.”
Even though Wall Street hasn’t won for over two years, he has been competitive at the top level over a long period of time and was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Pinker Pinker in the 2011 Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
And Moroney can offer excuses for the old war horse in the Group 1 $1m Carlton Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot two weeks ago after running into trouble in the straight before finishing eighth to Mr Moet, beaten less than two and a half lengths.
“He was set to finish a lot closer until he copped plenty of interference late,” Moroney said.
Local hero Luckygray will again start favourite after being set an impossible task by jockey Shaun O’Donnell in the Railway Stakes and after being near the tail of the field on the home turn worked home under 58kg to be beaten less than a length by plunge winner Mr Moet.
The early markets sees Luckygray at $2.50 with Wall Street at the juicy odds of $13.
Perth’s other favourite son Playing God is at $6 to make it three Kingston Town Classics in a row while Mr Moet is $12 to win back to back Group 1s.
And $14 chance Fuddle Dee Duddle with Glen Boss aboard will become the first filly to win the Kingston Town Classic if see can upstage the older horses.
