Tuesday, 7 August 2007: Classic winner Eskimo Queen has made a strong start to her spring carnival build-up but it will be another month before she opens her Melbourne campaign.
Eskimo Queen delighted trainer Mike Moroney when she was given her first serious gallop at Flemington last week since she came to grief in the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on June 9.
Eskimo Queen escaped with no major problems after she fell in the Derby, a week after she trounced her own sex in the Queensland Oaks at her first Australian start.
"I'm very happy with her. She's put on nice weight with the little break," Moroney reported.
Eskimo Queen did all her early racing out of Moroney's New Zealand stable where she raced four times for two wins and two placings.
At her first Australian start she finished third in the Doomben Roses prior to her Oaks success.
After her Derby mishap Moroney decided to keep her in Australia to give her a better foundation for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups
"We know she's still got to find a few lengths but she's been lightly raced and still improving," Moroney said.
"On what we've seen, we're hopeful she can make that step up."
Moroney is gearing Eskimo Queen to resume in the $200,000 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 8.
The $350,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 22 and the $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6 are also on her agenda leading up to the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup on October 20.
Moroney has dismissed a recent fitness scare with Xcellent as a concern and has him ticking over towards the start of his spring campaign in New Zealand.
Xcellent is set to will begin his Melbourne Cup campaign at Hastings in the G1 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m), a race he won two years ago.
Xcellent, who had his first start in 18 months when 18th in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June, is programmed to run Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) and the $NZ2 million Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings before heading to Melbourne.
Xcellent gave the Moroney stable a scare two weeks ago when he strained a shoulder ligament that was described by the trainer as "a nuisance".
Xcellent, unbeaten in six starts in New Zealand including four at GI level, is a likely runner in the $3 million W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley as part of his lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.
Moroney's other spring hopefuls include Skiddaw Peak, Sarrera, Jokers Wild and Lady Atire, who was sent from New Zealand to his Melbourne stable last week.
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