Moonee Valley gallops on Tuesday

Darryl Sherer - Tuesday August 22

Several horses nominated for Moonee Valley on Saturday were able to gallop on the course Tuesday ahead of their races at the weekend.

Advertisement
Bandipur and Achi Baba (blue) towards the finish of their gallop. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The Tony McEvoy-trained pair of Azazel and Roomooz looked good finishing together at the end of their work and the Ciaron Maher-trained Lady Esprit was second on the track and sharp towards the end of her work.

Markers were out 12 metres, riders reporting the ground riding in the soft(6) range.

Racenet has compiled a list of times below with an analysis of the work to assist punters.

Horse

Distance

last 400m

Comment

Azazel & Roomooz

1000m 1:05.97

24.61

Controlled throughout and solid from the off, Roomooz on the outside of Azazel and both on the bridle through the line. Azazel nominated for the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes on Saturday, Roomooz for the 3YO Fillies.

Bandipur & Achi Baba

1000m 1:07.51

25.15

Steady from the start and maintained a consistent tempo, Bandipur on the outside and both completing this comfortably. Bandipur nominated for the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, Achi Baba for the Benchmark 90.

Heatherly

800m 52.78

24.28

Held together from the off and unhurried, still under a hold through the line and did this easily. Nominated for the Carlyon Stakes.

Frankel My Dear & Missrock

600m 38.22

23.96

Missrock looks terrific and led the work early with the younger horse more than holding his own and together through the line. Missrock nominated for the Carlyon Stakes, Frankel My Dear for the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes.

Merriest

800m 53.35

23.97

Short and sharp, keen to go faster in the straight but restrained and through the line on the bridle and with ears pricked. Nominated for the Dr Sheahan Plate.

Verstappen & Flash Boy

1000m 1:06.93

25.17

Verstappen led the gallop from the off and maintained a one length lead to the home turn, Flash Boy getting closer at the finish but both under a good hold. Verstappen nominated for the 1200m Benchmark90, Flash Boy for the 1600m Benchmark78.

Lady Esprit

800m 52.44

23.73

Sharp from the off and rolled on off the turn. Sharp through the line and still on the bridle. Nominated for the Carlyon Stakes.

Fragonard

1000m 1:07.59

24.21

Steady from the off and always under a hold. Keen to go faster late but restrained and did this comfortably. Nominated for the 1200m Dr Sheahan Plate.

Fox Swift & All Too Royal

800m 52.22

24.72

Together from the off, Fox Swift on the outside. Not out to go any faster and allowed to roll up the last 200m. All Too Royal nominated for the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, Fox Swift for the 1200m 3YO Fillies Plate.

O'Rachael & It's Time For Magic

1000m 1:08.11

24.82

Together from the off with It's Time For Magic on the outside. Went side by side all the way and both well on the bridle through the line. Both nominated for the 1200m Dr Shehan Plate.

Jaminzah

1000m 1:12.04

27.05

Could not be any fitter and this a maintenance piece of work, casual from the off and unhurried in the straight Nominated for the 1600m Benchmark78.

Municipality & Big Memory

1200m 1:23.65

25.71

Casual through the first 100m before settling into a rhythm. Together off the turn and Municipality shading it on the line. Municipality nominated for the 1600m Benchmark78, Big Memory for the Open 1500m.

Time To Test & Super Haze

1600m 1:52.18

24.37

Casual early and then built, together off the turn and built through the line, last 100m best part of the work. Super Haze nominated for the Open 2500m, Time To Test for the Open 2040m.

Uptown Gal & Darabad

600m 39.26

25.31

Darabad on the outside and trotted before cantering off from the 600m. Both controlled and unhurried, more a sighting of the course. Darabad nominated for the Open 1500m, Uptown Gal for the 1200m 3YO Fillies.

Sircconi & Cosmic Lights

800m 53.25

24.25

Short and sharp, controlled through the early stages then building, last 100m both strong through the line. Sircconi nominated for the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, Cosmic Lights for the 1600m Benchmark78.

Banish & Ellenroh

1000m 1:07.47

25.99

Consistent speed from the off and together off the bend and through the line, both well on the bridle. Both nominated for the 1200m 3YO Fillies.

Pin Your Hopes

1000m 1:11.41

24.39

Casual from the off then built gradually, rolled off the turn and sharp the last 100m. Nominated for the Benchmark 1200m and the Open 1500m.

Cismontane

1600m 1:54.14

27.07

Trotted a lap before cantering off past the post and this a maintenance piece of work, not out to do anything strenuous but he got a good look at the course. Nominated for the Open 2500m.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Karaka Million aim for Home Affairs Colt
The two-year-old race staged by the Levin Racing Club at Otaki every November has a proven record of unearthing top-level talent, and Te Akau Racing is hoping for more of the same with Sunday’s Levin Jumpouts 2YO (1100m) winner Kinnaird.
15 Saturday Stakes Races Out of Season
Last Saturday in Australia there were an astonishing 15 stakes races run in a time period most trainers see as being out of season, barring the Perth Summer Carnival, when we consider that our elite horses are programmed towards spring and autumn, so what is going on?
Stakes Double for Westbury Stud Sires
New stakes winners for resident stallions Redwood and Tarzino were celebrated by Westbury Stud at the weekend.
Savabeel Colt Wins G3 Wellington Stakes
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh won the Gr.3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes (1600m) for the fifth time at Otaki on Sunday with emerging talent Ammirati, but this was a win unlike any other.
2025 Japan Cup Winner - Aga Khan Gelding a World Beater
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who has taken giant strides in 2025 to become the Cartier European Horse of the Year and on Sunday he achieved the almost unthinkable with a history making win in the Group I Japan Cup (2400m).
Reliable Man Bargain Buy Wins Cromwell Cup
Peachy Keen capped a super-consistent spring campaign with a last-gasp victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).
Sires With Winners - Monday December 1
Here is the full list of 14 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Savabeel Mare Primed for G1 on Saturday
Stephen Marsh has his sights set on further feature-race success, with his proven performer Provence confirmed for Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
Pedigree Watch – G1 and G1 Potential
Last Saturday provided Australian racing fans with a bewildering array of 15 Black Type events spread across four states, so with a newly minted Group I winner and a couple of other horses we see as having G1 potential, a closer look at the pedigrees got me thinking.
Yulong Winner at Otaki
Yulong has wasted little time in making a mark on New Zealand racing this spring, and those emerald green and white colours were carried to another feature-race win by Azeezle in Sunday’s Levin Truck Services Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.