Moroney ready to Roch

Trainer casts eye towards Royal Ascot

TRAINER Mike Moroney has indicated a trip to Royal Ascot is on the cards with his star sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse in 2023.

The daughter of Per Incanto took out two of Melbourne’s major sprinting features in 2022 and will look to go bigger and better in the new year.

She was last seen rattling home to take out the $3m Champions Sprint, proving too good for Nature Strip and Moroney says that bodes well for her international prospects.

“We’ll look to give her a shot in England and head to Royal Ascot,” Moroney said.

“She did beat Nature Strip and that horse obviously went great over there so I think she would have a good chance if we do end up going.”

The Kiwi raider burst on the scene when taking out the Newmarket Handicap at triple figure odds in the autumn and it’s likely she will be there in 2023 to defend her title.

Only five horses have won the race twice with the latest being Redkirk Warrior in 2017 and 2018. TAB early markets rate Roch ‘N’ Horse a $15 chance to complete the double with Godolphin filly In Secret the firm favourite at $3.50.

“We’ll kick off down here in the Lightning and Newmarket and see where we go from there,” Moroney said.

“There’s the TJ in Sydney as well, and we could go there and then head to Royal Ascot.

“She’s come back really well, she’s done some strong pace work and we’re not too far off really ramping her work up to get her ready to go.”

While happy with how the six-year-old has come back, Moroney’s only query with the dual Group 1 winner in her autumn campaign is striking wet tracks.

The Flemington-based conditioner is hoping for a touch of luck with the weather as he concedes Roch ‘N’ Horse is more effective on top of the ground. “She does seem to be better on top of the ground and we seemed to have had some luck avoiding the wet tracks so I’m just hoping it can be the same this prep.

“She failed in the TJ on a bottomless track so that would be my only query with her.”