Trainer Mike Moroney has revealed that imported Irish stayer Voleuse De Coeurs is likely to return to the races in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 8.
Voleuse De Coeurs will get the opportunity to turn-the-tables on Fiorente in the Australian Cup during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Voleuse De Coeurs was purchased by Eliza Park International and transferred to the stable of Moroney following her dominant victory in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at Curragh on September 15 and made her Australian racing debut with a tenth place finish in the 2013 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
The Teofilo mare was sent to the spelling paddock after the Melbourne Cup, but has been back in work for five weeks and, according to Moroney, is working towards a rematch with Fiorente in the Australian Cup.
“She’s really good, put on quite a bit of weight and she seems really well,” Moroney told TVN.
“We’re just about to quicken-up her work actually, but I’m very happy with her.
“She’ll go straight to the Australian Cup or, if we think she’s not ready for the 2000-metres, she will run in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) on the same day.”
Voleuse De Coeurs had thirteen starts for legendary Irish trainer Dermot Weld and took out the 2013 Listed Vintage Crop Stakes (2816m), before stamping herself as a Melbourne Cup contender by beating Godolphin-owned Ahzeemah, tough stayer Saddler’s Rock and two-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux in the Irish St Leger.
While Voleuse De Coeurs is on track for the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing, Moroney confirmed that classy colt Marwood would not have an autumn campaign in either Sydney or Melbourne after being found to be suffering from a breathing problem.
“He was coming along really well but he’s got an issue and he had to have a wind operation, so he’s out of the autumn,” Moroney said.
Marwood started his racing career in August last year with two impressive wins in Seymour and Bendigo, but had no luck when stepped up in class to contest the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
Moroney has not had much luck in the Australian Cup; with his previous runners Glass Harmonium (fifth in 2013 and seventh in 2012), Divine Rebel (sixth in 2010) and Second Coming (ninth in 1998) all missing the placings in the Group 1 event.
