Trainer Mike Moroney will unveil one of his Australian Guineas contenders in a jump-out at Werribee.
Pendragon (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will have his first serious test on Australian soil when he lines up in the second heat on Monday over 1100m.
The gelding is at Moroney’s Flemington stable preparing for a shot at the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 2.
Pendragon has won three of his seven starts, including the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Pukekohe on December 26 and was a last start second to Orchestral in the Karaka Millions (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.
Moroney said Pendragon had been at his Flemington base just shy of two weeks and has settled into his new surrounds in excellent order.
“He’s been here a good 10 days or so and he’s settled in well,” Moroney said.
“He’s had a couple of gallops and he’ll head to the jump-outs on Monday and then on to the Guineas.
“It’s an 1100-metre jump-out, so he doesn’t need to do a lot, and that will be a solid hit-out for him.”
Moroney shared the training of Pendragon with Pam Gerard in New Zealand but is in the Melbourne Cup winning trainer’s care when in Australia.
He said Pendragon heads to the Australian Guineas in good form, having won three straight races before the Karaka Millions defeat.
“He found the ground a little bit tricky for him last time, but in saying that they all had to get through it,” Moroney said.
“He all but fell turning for home, so he did a really good job to pick himself up.
“The horse that beat him, is pretty good, and she would be a serious chance in the Australian Oaks (2400m at Randwick), I would think.”
