Monaco Consul fit and ready - Moroney

Monaco Consul. Photo / Greg Bowker

Monaco Consul has pleased trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney in the lead-up to tomorrow's $A6 million Melbourne Cup.

Moroney elected not to run Monaco Consul at Flemington's Derby Day yesterday, following his effort for third in the Caulfield Cup two weeks ago.

"We have put a bit more pressure now than he has turned four," Moroney told Sky TV's Racing Retro yesterday.

"We have backed him up every fortnight which we were not doing last time. We think that is enough for him, he's a natural stayer.

"He had a nice hit out this morning here at Flemington. We are not worried we were not there yesterday - we think we have got the horse fit and well."

Monaco Consul won the VRC Derby last year, but his performances for much of this year were indifferent, apart from his effort for third behind Shoot Out and Descarado in the AJC Derby

However, his Caulfield Cup run was a much maturer effort.

"Of the three year olds in the AJC finish, he was the one making ground late and we felt he was a natural two-miler."

Monaco Consul, who hails from the family of Brew, Moroney's Cup winner in 2000, won the Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney last year on a wet track.

"Certainly the rain won't take him out of it," Moroney said.

Monaco Consul, to be ridden by Craig Williams, was an $18 chance on the New Zealand TAB yesterday.

- NZPA