Moriarty doubtful Doncaster Mile runner on wet track

Wet track dud Moriarty is a doubtful runner in the Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday if the track is significantly rain affected.

Moriarty will be a doubtful Doncaster Mile runner if the Randwick track is significantly rain affected. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Moriarty will be a doubtful Doncaster Mile runner if the Randwick track is significantly rain affected. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Trainer Chris Waller said that he would consider scratching Moriarty, one of the outsiders of the field at $67, if the rain returned to Randwick after the seven year old has only been placed once from nine attempts on soft and heavy tracks.

“The first concern would be the wet track for him. If it was a wet track I’d save him,” Waller said on his weekly weekend preview.

“He has had nine runs on soft and heavy for one placing many years ago.”

“He’s no good on it and I’m not going to break his heart. He will go straight to Queensland if he needs to.”

On a drying track Waller said that Moriarty would be competitive and wouldn’t be out of place in the big Randwick Mile field.

“He deserves to be there,” Waller said.

“The horse is well and is working well and his first up run was okay.”

Moriarty broke through for his maiden Group 1 win during the 2014 Perth Summer Carnival when he beat local hero Disposition in the $500,000 TAB Touch – Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot.

The seven year old then resumed from a spell for an eighth to Real Impact in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 21.

If Waller was to scratch Moriarty because of a wet track, it would give first emergency Sweynesse a start and bring second emergency Kermadec one step closer to gaining a start.

Kermadec is the best fancied of Waller’s four Doncaster Mile acceptors and he will also saddle up top weight Sacred Falls, the winner of the last two runnings of the Doncaster Mile and 2013 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent.

Waller is sweating on at least two scratchings for Kermadec to sneak into the Doncaster Mile field and the three year old is currently the second favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au at $6.50.

Glen Boss takes the ride at 50kg and Waller said that he would be hard to beat if he gains a start.

“Good jockey and no better rider to have on in a Group 1 race,” Waller said.

“Kermadec is great. He is a very good horse, if he gets a start he will be very hard to beat.”

Doncaster Mile market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Hallowed Crown, $6.50 Kermadec, $7.50 Real Impact, $8 Pornichet, $9.50 Royal Descent, $12 Sweynesse, $15 World Ace, It’s Somewhat,  Suavito $16 Sacred Falls, $19 Arabian Gold, $21 Hooked, Rudy, Happy Trails, $26 Cosmic Endeavour, Diamond Drille, $34 Leebaz, Plucky Belle, $67 Ninth Legion, Moriarty, Destiny’s Kiss, $101 Malavio, $126 Puccini, $151 Aomen.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.