SOMETHING’S BREWING
Trainer Mike Moroney says Vengeur Masque bears similarities to his 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew. He’s hoping the import gets a chance to repeat yesterday’s stunning effort on the first Tuesday in November.
TRAINER Mike Moroney has declared Vengeur Masque a genuine Melbourne Cup horse after his brilliant win in the Geelong Cup yesterday.
The European import finally rewarded his connections for their patience in yesterday’s $300,000 Group 3 race, claiming his first Australian victory in the process with promising jockey Patrick Moloney on board.
Vengeur Masque ($15) held off a late challenge from a flying race favourite Gallic Chieftain ($3) on the rails to salute by a half-head.
Moroney declared he had bigger fish to fry with the sixyear-old, setting his sights on this year’s Melbourne Cup.
And bookies reacted accordingly after yesterday’s win, slashing Vengeur Masque from $201 to $101 for the Melbourne Cup.
But first Vengeur Masque, who is 44th in the order of entry with 50kg for the Melbourne Cup, will need to receive a weight penalty from Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper, Greg Carpenter, for his gutsy win.
“It was very, very impressive,” Moroney said of Vengeur Masque’s performance.
“Hopefully a bit more weight and attrition as well (will get him in).
“Hopefully this year we can make the Melbourne Cup because I think he deserves a place in it. He’s a really promising stayer.
“This year’s Melbourne Cup and next year’s as well is when he’s really at his best.
“He certainly has got strong enough to be a chance in the Melbourne Cup.”
Qewy, a star in last year’s Spring Carnival, received a minimal half-kilo penalty for his win in last year’s Geelong Cup.
It will not be much help for Moroney and Vengeur Masque’s connections, who missed last year’s Melbourne Cup by one place on the order of entry.
However, previous winners, including Almoonqith (2015), Caravan Rolls On (2014), Ibicenco (2013) and Gatewood (2012), received 1kg or 1.5kg penalties.
A 1kg penalty would see him move to 35th in the order of entry.
Moroney could then head straight to the Melbourne Cup rather than run Vengeur Masque in the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day.
Carpenter will announce the penalty today.
Moroney said he was confident Vengeur Masque could run in the ballot-free Lexus and then back up into the Melbourne Cup.
“He is strong enough to do that (run in a Lexus to qualify),” Moroney said.
“I wouldn’t have last year, but this year certainly.”
After jumping well and settling behind nippy leader Lizzie L’Amour, he led in the home straight and showed his toughness to hold out late challenges in the shadows of the winning post.
Brent Stanley’s Violate ($17) was swooping out wide to finish third, while Darren Weir’s Gallic Chieftain burst along the rails late.
Moroney was full of praise for Moloney’s ride, which managed to get Vengeur Masque into a nice position from a sticky barrier 10.
“We discussed it beforehand and had plan A and B,” the trainer said.
“He (Moloney) just said he always begins like an Oakleigh Plater and he just said, ‘I hope today he does’, because other times he’s had to snag him to get back.
“He flew the gates, he had to do a little bit of work to get across. Things didn’t quite go to plan and he had to do a little bit of work.
“I was mindful that might tell in the finish. But he stuck on really well.”
The win was Moroney’s first Geelong Cup after going close in 2001 with runner-up Maythehorsebewithu.