Racing: The One antidote to Moroney headache

Former Matamata galloper Temple Hills (left) won the listed Scott Group Penny Edition Stakes in Adelaide. Picture / Trish Dunell

SYDNEY - Transtasman trainer Mike Moroney has had plenty of headaches with The One, but he was ready to forgive the colt after his exciting win in the group three Danehill Stakes at Flemington, Melbourne.

The One won by a nose on Saturday from the David Hayes-trained filly Anamato, with Sharkbite third.

The One's starting price with local bookmakers was A$26 but he paid a whopping A$49 on the NSW tote.

His price on the New Zealand TAB was $16.50.

Moroney was surprised at the dividend as he had run sixth to Haradasun at Caulfield three weeks ago.

But that run also signalled plenty of problems for the trainer.

"He has given us a few sleepless nights," Moroney said. "In the Vain [Stakes], he wanted to over-race and Greg [jockey Greg Childs] had all sorts of trouble trying to stop him."

Moroney trialled him with a norton bit and the mesh-type eye covering of pacifiers on Tuesday and he performed much better.

He opted against applying the pacifiers on Saturday and as it was he would not have been allowed to use them as the track was heavy.

"Greg said he was a long way better yesterday, though still has a bit to learn."

The One was at the tail of the field on Saturday when Childs asked the horse to improve at the 500m mark, steering a course to the middle of the track as the rest stuck to near the grandstand rail and it proved a masterstroke, as he just held out Anamato.

While many thought the 1200m would be too short for The One, Moroney said "you need a good 1400m horse" to win down the Flemington "straight six" course.

He said he did not know how The One would cope with the heavy track, but got the answer in pleasing fashion.

The colt, from the famed Southland breed of the Dennis brothers, is being aimed at the Caulfield Guineas and the Victoria Derby, with his next start in the group three Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield, where he is due to clash with Haradasun.

"Our horse will be all the better for having this race, so we are not overly worried about facing Haradasun."

The One also holds a nomination for the Cox Plate and Moroney said that option would be considered if he happened to win the Caulfield Guineas on October 14.

* Meanwhile, former New Zealand-trained Sphenophyta almost made it a red letter day for the Kiwis on Saturday with his game second in the group two Craiglee Stakes at Flemington.

Sphenophyta, now in Lee Freedman's stable, hit the lead early in the straight after Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne secured an inside run and he galloped ahead of the field before being run down late by Pompeii Ruler.

"He probably peaked on his run inside the 200m but he kept going to the line. It was a really pleasing effort," he said.

Sphenophyta, who remains part-owned in New Zealand, is likely to contest the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 23 in a bid to qualify for the Caulfield Cup.

He might need to win the Underwood to gain a Caulfield Cup start as he only has 50kg in the race.

* Glen Boss has a spring in his step as he gears up for another spectacular season.

The jockey is best known for his association with champion staying mare Makybe Diva but believes Eremein can fill the void left by the mare's retirement.

Boss rode himself into form with four winners at Randwick on Saturday, none more important than his victory aboard Eremein in the Chelmsford Stakes.

Country star Newton's Rings looked as if he had stolen the race but Eremein dug deep and reeled him in to win by a nose.

"This horse gives me goose bumps and I'm very excited about the Cox Plate," Boss said.

"He is the best weight-for-age horse in Australia bar none.

"Bring on the Cox Plate."

TAB Sportsbet reacted by reinstating Eremein to A$4.50 favouritism alongside El Segundo who displaced him at the head of the market with his win in last week's Memsie Stakes.

* Former Matamata galloper Temple Hills won the listed Scott Group Penny Edition Stakes in Adelaide on Saturday.

Temple Hills, previously trained by Lance O'Sullivan and now with Peter Moody at Caulfield, Melbourne, beat Royal Ida by half a head in the 1450m event at Cheltenham.

He is now a possible candidate for the group one Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick, Sydney, on October 7.

He is also entered for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and the Cox Plate.

- NZPA