Racing: Monaco Consul gears up for Turnbull Stakes

Monaco Consul, ridden by Leith Innes. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Trainer Mike Moroney has made a range of gear changes on Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul in an effort to get the best out of him in the A$500,000 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington tomorrow.

The High Chaparral 4-year-old has a near-side blinker and a bubble-cheeker on for the first time but the pacifiers and cross-over noseband come off for the 2000m feature.

Stewards reported the dual group one winner hung in when an unlucky second-up seventh to Shocking in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington at his last start on September 4.

Moroney said jockey Craig Williams had to take evasive action to avoid heels in the straight and, when switched to the inside, Monaco Consul dashed home well, albeit beaten eight lengths.

Having had a 29-day break between runs Moroney has had Monaco Consul on the track this week. The entire had an exhibition gallop with the Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume between races at Caulfield on Sunday and a solid hitout on the Flemington course proper with stablemate Missing In Action on Tuesday.

"I'm really happy with him. When he galloped here before the Victoria Derby last spring he was all at sea but now he's far more professional and going to the line a lot straighter," Moroney said.

"We knew we had to give him a couple of nice gallops being older and stronger and he was starting to get away from us a wee bit with the month between runs.

"He's forward enough now and getting close to his right distance. So from here on we should start to see something from him."

Moroney said a decision would be made after the Turnbull whether Monaco Consul goes to the Caulfield Cup or the Cox Plate on his way to the Melbourne Cup.

"First thoughts were the Caulfield Cup and we'll see what he does here on Sunday and take it from there," he said on Thursday.

Monaco Consul, who won the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the corresponding weekend last spring, has drawn barrier one in the 16-horse field plus three emergencies after the scratching of C'est La Guerre on Wednesday.

Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, unbeaten in four starts at Flemington, remains A$4.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Shoot Out at A$5, Typhoon Tracy (A$6), second emergency Moudre (A$8) with Vigor and Metal Bender at A$10.

The Bart Cummings-trained Dariana has firmed from A$15 to A$11 despite drawing one from the outside (barrier 19), while stablemate Faint Perfume and Zipping are at A$12.

Descarado has firmed from A$16 to A$13, and Monaco Consul has come in from A$21 to A$18.

- AAP