Sydney on Merion’s radar

6 March 2015

The Sydney autumn carnival awaits Merion, as long as the New Zealand-bred races up to expectations this weekend.

The son of O’Reilly must first pass a test in the Gr.1 $A500,000 Australian Guineas at Flemington.

“This is the race we’ve aimed him at and he’s had two runs now,” trainer Mike Moroney said.

Merion was third when resuming and last time out he was fourth behind Wandjina in the Gr.3 CS Hayes Stakes.

“He’ll be on trial for Sydney at Flemington on Saturday. There are lots of options for a good three-year-old like him up there so we’ll see how he runs here first,” Moroney said.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

No Corner last week; this week the Annual Thoroughbred Racing Awards night certainly deserves acknowledgment. It is the second of two nights of measurement of Thoroughbred achievements for the year, with the first focussing on our Breeders’ awards.

9 September 2026

Savabeel’s Group 1 daughter Belle Cheval retired

Belle Cheval, by champion sire Savabeel, enjoyed a stellar career: placing in the NZ 1000 Guineas, winning the Almanzor Trophy and Uncle Remus Stakes, finishing second in The Kiwi, then claiming Group 1 glory in Australia’s Vinery Stud Stakes before retiring to broodmare duties.