Racing: Distance a concern for Monaco

MELBOURNE: The Mike Moroney stable is more concerned about the drop in distance than the rise in class for 3-year-old Monaco Consul in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick today.

The Victoria Derby winner showed he was back in form with a strong run from back in the field to run third in the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) won by Shoot Out from Descarado a fortnight ago.

He steps out over 2000m today as the only 3-year-old in the weight-for-age feature.

"He's trained on well for this race and weight-for-age is not a problem for him. The query is coming back to the 2000m, that's going to be the question mark," stable manager Anthony Feroce said.

After adding the Victoria Derby to his win in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in October, Monaco Consul lost form in three runs in New Zealand.

The colt finished only 11th to Military Move in the New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 6. "He just had a few niggly little problems in New Zealand and things didn't go right," Feroce said.

"He returned to his best in the AJC Derby but he won't be going to Queensland for the Derby there.

"He'll go out for a spell and come back in the spring for the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup."

- AAP