Moroney dreaming of Royal Ascot

[Wandering Eyes]

New Zealand-bred sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse has made waves in Australia since transferring to trainer Michael Moroney’s Flemington barn earlier this year, and he is now itching to test her talents further afield.

The daughter of Per Incanto carried breeder-owner Little Avondale Stud’s silks to victory in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March and the Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) last month.

In her most recent victory, Roch ‘N’ Horse defeated Nature Strip, who tasted success at Royal Ascot in the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) in June for trainer Chris Waller.

Moroney is keen to head north with his mare, but said the ultimate decision lay with owners Sam and Catriona Williams of Little Avondale Stud.

“There are races there to suit, but it would be up to the owners. Talking with Sam, he is thinking along those lines,” Moroney told RSN.

Moroney has been pleased with Roch ‘N’ Horse’s efforts since crossing the Tasman, and while a trip to England is on the radar, he is focusing his attention on targets closer to home.

“We are going to start off with the Lightning (Gr.1, 1000m), head to the Newmarket (Gr.1, 1200m), and then probably the TJ Smith (Gr.1, 1200m),” he said.

“They are the three races we are thinking and then we will make some decisions after that.

“She will be lumping around a bit more weight, but she has won at weight-for-age, so I suppose you have got to think that she is still a good chance that she will get in quite well at the weights.

“A lot of the mares are as good, if not all, in the autumn as they are in the spring. We are hoping we can repeat the dose again.

“She is back in the stable doing a bit of light work at the moment. She looks great. She spelled well and seems to be thriving in Australia.”

Moroney is also looking forward to the autumn with fellow Kiwi-bred Bankers Choice, who was victorious last month in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).

“We are going to restrict him back to a race early in the autumn to a race like the All-Star Mile, as far as distance goes. It is a pretty testing mile,” he said.

“We may step him up towards the end of the campaign a bit further again and in spring we might change tack and give him a Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) preparation.

“I think he has got a nice race in him at some stage.”

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