Michael Moroney back at the races after health battle as he eyes Melbourne Cup berth in Bendigo Cup
Trainer Mike Moroney will return to the races for the first time after a recent health battle that put his life in jeopardy as he chases a Melbourne Cup spot via the Bendigo Cup.
Mike Moroney is confident his Bendigo Cup runner Whisky On The Hill can lock in a Melbourne Cup start as the popular Flemington trainer eyes an emotional race day return for the first time in more than six months after overcoming a serious health battle.
Whisky On The Hill will be guaranteed a start in the $8m Melbourne Cup next Tuesday if he can win Wednesday’s $500,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup.
The lightly-raced stayer has yet to pass the Melbourne Cup ballot clause but Moroney believes his horse can still qualify off the back of good recent form.
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“We’re still on track to make it (to the Melbourne Cup),” Moroney said.
“It’s an interesting race.
“That horse (Sea King) with form in the Ebor is running and will be hard to beat.
“Then you have a horse like Herman Hesse, who has pretty good form.
“But I am really happy with Whisky On The Hill. I expect him to run really well.”
Whisky On The Hill has been well backed, firming into equal $5 favourite with Ladbrokes, alongside Sea King and Berkeley Square.
Moroney, who famously trained Brew to win the 2000 Melbourne Cup, is aiming to be back at Flemington for a day or two of the four-day carnival, following the biggest fight of his life.
In April Moroney took ill after making a trip back to his native New Zealand and a series of ailments including a cancer fight, acute pneumonia and a collapsed lung put his training career – and his life – in jeopardy for a period.
But thankfully he has made steady progress and is “feeling terrific”, having been back at trackwork for six weeks now.
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Refreshed and rejuvenated, and now in a training partnership with Glen Thompson, Moroney plans to make a race-day appearance at Flemington across the next week, with Ballymore Stables ready for more success after strong recent results.
“It’s just great to be back a bit sooner than I thought, as I have been through a lot, and the doctors told me that I wouldn’t be back for awhile,” he said.
“I am hoping to make it to at least a couple of days of the carnival.
“Glen (Thompson) and (racing manager) Anthony (Feroce) and the entire staff have done a great job.
“We have won a race at the Caulfield carnival with Whisky On The Hill and we won the other day (at Moonee Valley) with that good filly Certain Rise. So hopefully we can win one of the races over the carnival at Flemington. We usually do.
“Flemington has always been a happy hunting ground for us.”
Originally published as Michael Moroney back at the races after health battle as he eyes Melbourne Cup berth in Bendigo Cup
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