Eagle Farm Cup winner Moriarty has been included in the 2014 Brisbane Cup field and is set to carry the top weight of 59.5 kilograms in the Group 2 event at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Moriarty will carry the top weight of 59 and a half kilograms in the 2014 Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Moriarty returned to winning form with a tough victory over Mr O’Ceirin and Floria in the Group 2 Eagle Farm Cup (2200m) last Saturday, but trainer Chris Waller revealed that the imported stayer was no certainty to be given the opportunity to score his second straight win in the Brisbane Cup this weekend.
The Clodovil gelding carried 58 kilograms to victory in the Brisbane Cup last year and at this stage will have the chance to become the first horse since Fair Patton in 1965 to win the Brisbane Cup in back-to-back years.
Mr O’Ceirin (barrier six) will also be backing up in the Brisbane Cup and will be stepping back up to 2400 metres for the first time since he finished a credible 11th in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) last year.
The Postponed gelding has performed well in his three starts during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, highlighted by second place finishes in both the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and Eagle Farm Cup, but has been unable to record his first race win since he took out the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last year.
Zephyron stamped himself as a leading contender for the Brisbane Cup with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 24, but may need a bit of luck after drawing barrier ten for the $300,000 race.
The Zabeel gelding will be stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time in his racing career, but gives every indication that he will appreciate the step-up in trip.
One stayer who will have no problems running out a strong 2400 metres is Precedence, who has run home strongly in both the Hollindale Stakes and Premier’s Cup since from a stint in the spelling paddock.
Precedence finished a disappointing ninth in last year’s Brisbane Cup, but looks to have maintained the form that he showed when he took out both the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) and Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.
John Thompson-trained Pretty Pins (barrier two), Kiwi mare Zennista (barrier nine) and Brian Smith-trained Raeburn are also coming out of the Premier’s Cup into the Brisbane Cup.
One of the most interesting runners in the 2014 Brisbane Cup field is lightly-raced three-year-old Falamonte, who will be having just his fifth race start when he contests the Brisbane Cup this weekend.
Falamonte missed out on a run in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) last weekend and trainer Robbie Laing has opted to give the Falkirk gelding an opportunity against older horses after she finished fourth in the Group 3 Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville on May 10.
The 2014 Brisbane Cup field is rounded out by Historian (barrier one), Floria (barrier two) and Skysoblue (barrier five).
