Pink Chandon spearheads Michael Moroney’s assault at Flemington
Pink Chandon is a difficult mare to handle but doesn’t put a foot wrong on race day and trainer Michael Moroney has faith that will be the case again in The Vanity.
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The calmest trainer Michael Moroney will be on Saturday is when Pink Chandon runs in The Vanity.
Before and after the 1400m Group 3 not so much as “madam” Pink Chandon has quite a reputation.
The sassy filly, who must be chaperoned everywhere with a pony, has been known to buck and rear on the way out to the training track and occasionally pulled up mid-session for another play.
Importantly for Moroney, connections and favourite backers, the talented Pink Chandon is a model student race day.
“I just hope she stays sane,” Moroney laughed.
“We should be able to (succeed now and in the future) because she’s a real talent.
“She wants to buck and rear and carry on … we got to pony her everywhere and even in her work she’ll get halfway around and pull up and carry on.
“She hasn’t done anything wrong race day but I’m waiting for it to happen.”
Pink Chandon is an $11 chance for The TAB Vanity behind Mollynickers ($3.50), Infatuation ($4), Donegal ($7) and Luijzika ($8).
Pink Chandon raced greenly first-up at Mornington in mid-December, only narrowly beaten, then saluted stylishly by three lengths in a Rising Stars heat at Pakenham last month.
“She’s a bit of a madam on the track to work but she’s got some real ability,” Moroney said.
“Race day she has been perfect but she’s not the easiest to work on the track, a bit cantankerous but she’s done all right race day.
“First-up this time had she gone straight she would’ve won but … she ducked back behind (favourite) half way up the straight, going two to one to the line but greenness beat her basically.
“Her next start she was quite impressive at Pakenham, she won with a lot in hand.”
Moroney also has Run Harry Run resuming on Saturday in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m), a traditional lead-up to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
Run Harry Run and New Zealand import Pendragon lead Moroney’s Australian Guineas assault.
“Not much between those two (Pendragon and Run Harry Run) and the females there’s not a hell of a lot between Coeur Volante and Pink Chandon,” Moroney said.
“Run Harry Run has grown a fair bit again, he’s a big horse and put on a bit of weight.
“The barrier draw is going to be a bit tough, my first thoughts were we’ll go back and get a bit of cover, he seems to be able to do either or (lead and run on).”
Blue Sapphire winner Run Harry Run, expertly named three-year-old gelding out of Maybe Markle, graduated from a Ballarat maiden defeat to Group 3 success in four starts last spring.
“His main aim is the Australian Guineas, the CS Hayes is ideal but a bit tough with the barrier draw,” Moroney said.
“He’s always been pretty smart, a class horse, he hasn’t had to improve much (from the spring).”
Moroney has Not An Option, a three-time Flemington 1400m winner, in the Listed Elms Handicap, Big Watch (race 2) and Japanese Emperor (race 4) also in commission at Flemington.
Originally published as Pink Chandon spearheads Michael Moroney’s assault at Flemington
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