Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will decide later in the week if last Saturday’s Eagle Farm winner Moriarty will back up in the Group 2 $300,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm this weekend.
Moriarty heads the nominations for Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniei Costello.
Moriarty was back in the winner’s circle after a long run of outs with a one and a quarter lengths victory over Mr O’Ceirin in the Group 2 weight for age $250,000 Merlo Coffee Eagle Farm Cup (2200m).
But Waller, who cracked the $20 million prizemoney mark on the weekend, won’t decide on a start this week until after the weights are released on Tuesday and he will also keep an eye on the weather with a wet track making it doubtful if Moriarty will defend his 2013 Brisbane Cup crown after beating Quintessential and Zennista, who is also nominated for this year’s version.
“I will see what weight he gets but we are not committed to the Brisbane Cup,” Waller told AAP.
“I won’t run him unless I’m certain he can win.
“He got a good track on Saturday for the first time in a while and he needs that.”
If Waller decides to miss the Brisbane Cup, Moriarty will more than likely go to the paddock for a short break before being prepared for the Spring Carnival.
“Maybe he goes for a spell and we get him ready for weight-for-age races in the Spring,” Waller said.
Waller has also nominated Secessio, a placegetter at his last two appearances in Listed company in Sydney, and Permit, who has been out of the prizemoney at his last four starts since winning the Listed $100,000 Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick on January 1.
Eagle Farm Cup placegetters Mr O’Ceirin and Floria are also among the seventeen Brisbane Cup nominations as well as last start Doomben winner Zephyron and the Bart and James Cummings trained warhorse Precedence.
Team Hawkes will be hoping the forecast of rain stays away after they brought Zephyron north to dodge a wet track in Sydney to win the Group 3 $125,000 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 24.
And Precedence is on track for a Brisbane Cup start following a third to Streama in the Group 2 $358,000 Wimmers Soft Drinks A. D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 3 and a second to Zephyron in the Premier’s Cup.
