The Michael Moroney-trained Milford scored a narrow triumph in Saturday’s Gr.3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.
The four-year-old son of Savabeel was back in the winner’s circle for the first time since winning the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) in January of last year when prepared by Stephen Marsh in a campaign that culminated in a runner-up finish in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) behind Rocket Spade.
Milford, who sports the colours of Lib Petagna, has been in good form this campaign, with his two lead-up races solid including a third placing in the Listed Golden Mile (1600m) at Benigo last start
Moroney was in Sydney saddling up stable star Tofane, who finished a game second in her farewell in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m), but stable representative Glen Thompson said the Milford came back into work ready to put in his best campaign.
“He’s come back better as a gelding. He showed a fair bit early on but lost his way a bit as a colt,” Thompson said.
“He came back last time as a gelding but struggled a little after the gelding operation. Mike put him in a paddock and he’s come back great this prep.
“He’s done really well all prep and held his condition well. His two runs leading into this were outstanding and he really flew under the radar.
“It just looked like he was crying out for the 2000 metres and he showed that today.”
The in-form Moroney stable again linked with jockey Patrick Moloney who cajoled the best out of Milford.
“My fellow was eating up the 2000 stepping up from the mile today,” Moloney said.
“He had a bit of a think about it - he’s only won one race in his time so he had a good think about it when he hit the front.
“He stargazed a bit, but good to get the job done on this horse who I’ve been on last start and followed him through so it is good to get the job done for Mike.”
Bred by Waikato Stud, Milford was a $360,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase by agent Bruce Perry on behalf of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock.
He is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Etiquette and she is a sister to the four-time Group One winner and ill-fated sire Sacred Falls.
A full brother to Milford topped last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale when sold through Ohukia Lodge on behalf of Waikato Stud for $640,000 to Te Akau’s David Ellis. – NZ Racing Desk