A second Australian Guineas contender could emerge for Flemington trainer Mike Morrone after Saturday's race in New Zealand.
Moroney runs a New Zealand stable in partnership with Pam Gerard with the pair set to run the smart three-year-old Pendragon in the Karaka 3YO Classic at Ellerslie.
Winning this race will give Pendragon a place in the All-Star Mile at Caulfield on March 16 with the Australian Group 1 two weeks before the perfect race.
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Pendragon is among the entrants for the New Zealand Derby but Moroney said he was unsure whether the Group Two winner at the last start would stay.
“He's the type of horse we would probably bring in and try out,” Morrone said.
“I don’t know if he is a Derby horse although he has a strong pedigree on the dam side but he is an English runner.”
While Pendragon needs to establish himself as a suitable candidate for the trip to Australia, his locally trained stablemate Ran Harry Ran is a surefire contender for the Australian Guineas.
Run Harry Run has won three of four starts in a profitable spring, which culminated in a strong win in the Group 3 Blue Sapphire Stakes last November.
Morrone said Run Harry Run cost himself the chance of going through the spring unbeaten when he made mistakes on his Ballarat debut.
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Morrone said Run Harry Run will get its first jump on its fall preparations at Flemington on Thursday before racing resumes next month.
“We will have some great horses in the Australian Guineas,” Morrone said.
“Turn on Harry Run and he will be making his CS Hayes (Stakes) debut. He was impressive at Caulfield and will be an Australian Guineas horse.
TAB Run Harry Run is rated as a $15 chance in 'all-out' early betting on the Australian Guineas.
Originally published as Mike Moroney keen for NZ 3YO Pendragon and local colt Run Harry Run to take on the Australian Guineas
