3 minute read

The Mike Moroney-trained Malan today contests the ACE: In Australia For Over 50yrs Maiden Plate (1100m) at Ballarat where the gelding looks a great chance of claiming his first career victory.

Malan has finished second in both runs this campaign, the latest at Echuca over 1100m.

The gelding on that occasion was rolled as favourite but performed well under the circumstances when trapped three wide with no cover throughout.

He fought on for just a three-quarter length defeat and a strong case can be made that Malan is perhaps better suited in Thursday’s 1100m Maiden Plate at Ballarat.

Expect Malan to be fitter again third up in an event where race fitness could prove telling.

Ballarat is currently rated a Heavy 10 which should not be an issue for Malan based on his latest performance at Echuca.

The field is largely comprised of horses resuming who might just feel the testing conditions over the final stages.

Malan should get a favourable run in transit from barrier 4, ideally positioned in behind the leader.

He carries nothing courtesy of Brodie Loy’s 3kg claim and ticks all the right boxes heading into this contest.

With there being a wrap around for the resuming Munfasla, those interested in Malan may even get a nice price about him.

The resuming Munfasla does look a promising sort but could go around under the odds for what she has achieved during three career outings to date.

Munfasla does possess the highest 12 month weight adjusted Timeform figure of this field however supporting Bel Esprit filly does come with risks.

The Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old takes on older company for the first time and is untried in Heavy going.

Her two siblings to have raced have each shown they prefer racing over further than the 1100m sprint journey on offer here.

Whilst she does possess upside, supporting a filly taking on the older horses for the first time, resuming on a Heavy 10 who is likely to go around as favourite isn’t overly appealing.

The depth in this contest does appear to taper off after the first pair but on best form, Stoking first up is worth keeping safe.

The Terry and Karina O’Sullivan mare debuted at Mildura last December where she was only narrowly denied a maiden success over 1000m.

Stoking was unable to go on with the job second up at Horsham and was subsequently put away.

That debut effort does put her in the mix on resuming at Ballarat today.

You’re So Pius struggled first up at Geelong last start although does shape as an improver here.

Trainer Melody Cunningham equips the Pacifiers for the first time and while poor on resuming, he will have at least taken fitness from the run.

A career best effort when third at Seymour last campaign showed a glimpse of what he can do and profiles as a knockout hope.

Overall though, Malan and Munfasla shape as the pair most likely to fight out the finish with the former having the edge courtesy of some vital race fitness.