Rising Romance is available at 2014 Craven Plate odds of $1.75, but trainer Chris Waller believes that one of his three runners can cause an upset in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick tomorrow.
Moriarty is joined in the 2014 Craven Plate field at Royal Randwick tomorrow by stablemates Vilanova and Danchai. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Moriarty is rated the best Waller-trained chance by punters in the Craven Plate and Waller is confident that the Clodovil gelding is capable of returning to his best form after he failed to fire in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on September 20.
Waller said that Moriarty produced solid performances in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 23 and the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at the same venue on September 6 and believes that there is nothing wrong with the gelding heading into the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m).
“He went terrible last start, but he can bounce back,” Waller said.
“He was flying before that run last start.
“Moriarty is the genuine weight-for-age horse in the race.”
Danchai is yet to record a race win since arriving in Australia, but is stepping up to a more suitable distance after finishing eighth in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 6 and ninth in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 17.
Vilanova also finished towards the tail of the field in the Cameron Handicap, but had no luck in running and Waller believes that both horses will produce improved performances when they step-up to 2000 metres in the Craven Plate.
“The 2000 metres will suit and it was a walking race last start,” Waller said of Danchai.
“He should just lob fourth.
“Vilanova, is he going to be a contender in some of the spring races?
“If so he should be very hard to beat with Joao Moreira riding.”
Moriarty is currently available at Craven Plate odds of $4.20 and is on the second line of betting with Ladbrokes Australia from Kris Lees-trained Slow Pace ($7.50), Vilanova ($7.50), Joe Pride-trained Canny Ballad ($16) and Danchai ($21).
Waller is chasing his second win in the Craven Plate after winning with My Kingdom Of Fife in 2011, finishing third with Triple Honour in 2010 and missing the placings with Hurrah (2008), Syreon (2011), Class Is Class (2012) and Kelinni (2013).
