Racing: Moroneys take the cautious approach

Ballymore racing manager Paul Moroney had to make one of his toughest calls of the season late yesterday.

Does he run Ballymore Lass in the R76 at Matamata today and chase what looks like a certain slice of the $8000 stake?

Or should he roll the dice and have a crack at the $35,000 NZISS bonus she's eligible for if she wins against stronger company in the $10,000 R83 event?

His co-owner and father Denny, was happy to take the cautious approach yesterday and opt for the former.

And Moroney admits Ballymore Lass's wide gate in the bonus race makes it hard to argue against the old man.

But Moroney is also confident the Matamata filly has the talent to be competitive against some smart R83 types, which include stablemate Sweet Caroline, even from a double-digit alley.

The bonus clincher could be that Ballymore Lass gets to carry just 52kg in the R83 thanks to the 3kg claim of Ryan Allwood, the promising apprentice Moroney booked a fortnight back to help snatch the $35,000 prize.

"Sweet Caroline and Ballymore Lass galloped together on Saturday morning and Ballymore Lass looked to have slightly the measure," said Moroney.

"Sweet Caroline is never a good trackworker and Michael Coleman believes she's a talented filly, but I couldn't see her giving Ballymore Lass 5kg if we run in the bonus race."

"I've always thought Ballymore Lass is a pretty smart filly who is right up to stakes company."

Another factor swaying Moroney toward the R83 option yesterday was that a win would strengthen claims for a place in the $120,000 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 8.

Ballymore Lass has tried black type company twice before at two, both times finishing fourth and suffering long injury-enforced spells as a result of mid-race buffeting.

She resumed this campaign with an impressive fresh-up win at Taupo on New Year's Eve, but has had little luck in three starts since for trainers Andrew Scott and Michael Moroney.

The most recent was for a luckless sixth behind Captain Kurt at Matamata on February 25. "She was three wide the whole way and really kicked back strongly in the last 100m under pressure, like she was looking for 1400m," said Paul Moroney.

Moroney rates stablemates Dahling (race one) and Adelariva (race eight), who were both early New Zealand Oaks hopes, as other strong winning chances today.

Dahling will appreciate the step up to 1600m after a fresh-up fourth over 1400m, while Adelariva will only have to improve slightly on her last start third to Aukay to quit maidens over 2000m.