Mike Moroney is backing Viking Hero over stablemate in the Premier’s Cup

Mike Moroney will be backing Viking Hero when the four-year-old meets stablemate Tinseltown in the Premier’s Cup this Saturday.

The trainer believes has a greater winning chance due to his exceptional fitness.

“Viking Hero has the residual fitness advantage over Tinseltown,” Moroney said.

“I was very pleased with Viking Hero’s run last start and he only went under narrowly.

“He’s trained on well which is the encouraging thing with him.”

Viking Hero will be back at Brisbane for the second time, after participating in last year’s winter carnival.

The then three-year-old did not perform well enough last year to gain a Queensland Derby start.

The gelding most recently finished second by a nose to Humma in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap.

Before that, Viking Hero past the post tenth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on a rain affected track.

“He drew the outside in the Queen Elizabeth and couldn’t run on in the heavy going after getting too far back,” Moroney said.

Moroney’s Tinseltown was the victim of a horrific fall in last month’s Sydney Cup and the Premier’s Cup will be his first run back.

The trainer says that while he has recovered well, the fall had put a halt to Tinseltown’s preparation.

“Tinseltown hasn’t started since having that fall in the Sydney Cup and he’s a backmarker so he’ll need some luck,” Moroney said.

“But we went into the Sydney Cup with some confidence but unfortunately he struck a heel and came down.

“It looked a nasty fall but he recovered well and was only a little shaken.

“Luckily he didn’t suffer any serious injuries.”

Both Viking Hero and Tinseltown will be on trial for a start in the $300,000 Brisbane Cup on June 11.