Better track sees Milford back to best

Improved underfoot conditions were the key to Milford returning to winning ways in the G3 Eclipse S. over 1800 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.

The son of Savabeel was given an economical ride near the pace by Blake Shinn and the Waikato Stud graduate proved superior in the run home.

Successful in the G3 Easter Cup on the course earlier this year, Milford had been unplaced in his previous run in the Five Diamonds at Rosehill but trainer Michael Moroney said the five-year-old had legitimate excuses.

“He copped a buffering and was knocked from pillar to post. He picked himself up and ran home well considering the track was too wet for him,” he said.

“He was travelling well all the way today on the good ground and is just hitting his straps.”

Milford settled one off the fence in fourth spot before he strode to the front 200 metres from home and stayed on too well for his rivals.

He was purchased for $360,000 at Karaka by agent Bruce Perry on behalf of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock and is out of the unraced O’Reilly mare Etiquette.

She is a sister to the late multiple Group 1 winner and successful Waikato Stud sire Sacred Falls and produced a sister to Milford last year.

Milford began his career with Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh and won the Listed Gingernuts Salver during his three-year-old career before joining Moroney’s operation.