Rhythm To Spare lightweight hope in Sir Rupert Clarke

Trainer Mike Moroney isn’t discarding the chances of Rhythm To Spare in the Group 1 $400,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup (1400m) at Caulfield on Sunday  and regards the five year old as a lightweight hope in the fourteen horse field.

Rhythm To Spare is a lightweight chance in the Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup at Caulfield.

Rhythm To Spare is a lightweight chance in the Sir Rupert Clarke Charity Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Rhythm To Spare will be second up in the Sir Rupert Clarke after running a handy fifth to Late Charge in the Listed $120,000 The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington on September 13 at his first run back this Spring.

“I thought his first up run was good,” Moroney told RSN.

“He’s a lightweight horse and if they go quickly and if he gets the right run we could see him in the finish.”

Dean Yendall takes over from Damien Oliver who rode Rhythm To Spare at Flemington and gave a good report to Moroney after finishing just over two lengths behind the winner.

“I know Ollie thought, he had ridden him in one or two of his jump outs and he thought the horse was going okay without going terrific but he did say that his run at Flemington was a really good run first up,” Moroney said.

“He really should improve a lot from that, I think he is going the right way, whether he is capable of winning the Group 1 1400m. If it was a mile you would be a little more confident. Whether he is sharp enough to win at 1400m is questionable.”

Rhythm To Spare has been tested at Group 1 level only once when fourth to the Chris Waller trained Hawkspur in the 2013 Group 1 $500,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.

But the Pins gelding is a winner at Group 3 level when he beat Starkiato in the $150,000 Tapestry Shiraz R A Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville during the Adelaide Autumn Carnival this year.

Rhythm To Spare is rated a $31 chance for the Sir Rupert Clarke with Ladbrokes.com.au in a wide betting race that has the Peter Moody trained Dissident and Gai Waterhouse’s smart mare Sweet Idea sharing favouritism at $7.

Cluster from the stables of Peter and Paul Snowden is also well in commission at $7.50 just ahead of Trust In A Gust at $8,  A Time For Julia at $9 and Speediness, Bull Point and Sistine Demon who share the next line of betting at $10.

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.