Milford causes upset in Eclipse Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Milford (NZ) ridden by Blake Shinn wins the Lamaro’s Hotel Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on November 26, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)

Milford for Mike Moroney and Blake Shinn has taken out the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield over 1800m.

Keats and Holbien crossed the field to lead from wide barriers and Milford was able to follow them across and sit in the one-out one-back position in fifth about three lengths off the leaders.

The winner has taken out the Group 3 at rough odds, paying $17 with online bookmakers, beating home two more roughies in El Gladiador ($151) and Holbien ($23).

Eclipse Stakes Replay

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Mike Moroney has continued his incredible run of form to end the spring, with another Group winner on a feature day during the Victorian Spring Carnival.

“Just getting onto better ground was the key to him.” Moroney said that all this horse needs is firm ground and he will produce his best.

“He was travelling very nicely throughout and for a while I thought he let a couple too many go around him, but he knew what he was doing, and he got out at the right time.”

Moroney said that Milford could push on to the Lord Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day.

“He’s just hitting his best now. But we do need to consider the autumn and see what there is for him there also.”

Blake Shinn and Milford could develop a lethal partnership after starting their connection with a win from their very first start.

“I just had to pull a little manoeuvre to get across heels and once that happened the race was in our keeping from about the 300 (metres), and he did a good job.”

Shinn explained that he needed to patient to wait for the right run and once he got it, there was no way that he was going to lose.

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