Michael Moroney unsure if French import Gregolimo will back-up in Caulfield Cup if he wins Coongy Cup
Gregolimo is the only Coongy Cup runner eligible for a Caulfield Cup golden ticket but Michael Moroney is undecided if he’ll back-up should he win.
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Trainer Michael Moroney is open to backing up Gregolimo in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday should he win Wednesday’s qualifying Coongy Cup (2000m).
The French import overraced under a hefty 61kg impost at his Australian debut last month at Flemington but rallied to finish second behind Muramasa, beaten 1½ lengths.
They meet at level weights (54kg) on Wednesday at Caulfield after Gregolimo carried 2kg more last start in the 1630m Benchmark 78.
Maktoob, who finished third in the race, franked the formline last Saturday at Caulfield.
“We’d certainly have a look at it,” Moroney said.
“I thought we’d run and see how we go … he’s had a limited preparation for a Caulfield Cup.”
READ | Top trainer warns leading Caulfield Cup fancy might not run
Gregolimo is a $3.20 favourite with TAB for the Coongy Cup from Muramasa ($6.5), Foujita San ($7), Steinem ($7.5) and 59kg topweight Diamil ($9.5).
Gregolimo is the only horse in the Coongy eligible for the Caulfield Cup golden ticket.
“I would say he’ll go in this a lot fitter, he raced fresh first-up,” Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Moroney said.
“We’ve done a lot of long, slow work with him, to give him a chance to (run in a Caulfield Cup) … he looks a nice horse.”
Moroney has a slight Caulfield Cup distance query on Gregolimo, a three-time 2000m winner in France.
The five-year-old gelding has placed at 2200m previously.
“That would be at the top of his range a mile and a half (2400m) I think, from what we’ve seen, on his racing overseas,” Moroney said.
“But they (Caulfield Cup opportunities) don’t come around that often, so we’ll see how we go.
“He got overracing a little bit first up and that’s why I think a mile and a half would be the top of his range, we’ve added a crossover noseband to his gear to help him.”
READ | Key jockey bookings for Caulfield Cup day
Meanwhile, Moroney wants Melbourne Cup-qualified Alenquer to perform in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on October 27 before shoring up plans for the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.
Moroney has fielded interest from English jockey Tom Marquand to ride Alenquer in the Cup at 56.5kg.
Marquand won five of 11 starts on Alenquer in Europe, including the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“I’ll leave that to the owners, Tom knows the horse and knows Australian racing a bit too,” Moroney said.
Damien Oliver has previously linked to Alenquer, one of the few potential Cup runners within the Goat’s weight scale.
Originally published as Michael Moroney unsure if French import Gregolimo will back-up in Caulfield Cup if he wins Coongy Cup
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