Barthelona keeps record intact at Sandown

Trainer Mike Moroney is looking to a bigger spring picture following the win of Barthelona at Sandown.

The half-brother to Group One winning sprinter Under The Louvre, Barthelona kept his winning record intact as the $3.90 favourite in Wednesday’s Grand Hotel Frankston Plate (1000m).

Ridden by Ryan Maloney, Barthelona scored by 2-3/4 lengths from Tris ($8.50) with Violate ($9) three-quarters of a length away third.

Moroney had high hopes for Barthelona as a two-year-old and even considered him as the stable’s Blue Diamond hope.

He sent the colt to Sydney with the Inglis Classic in mind but took him back to Melbourne after a trial.

“Kerrin McEvoy trialled him and said `take him back home, he’s not strong enough’, so we put him out and he came back in the autumn,” Moroney said.

Barthelona scored a Bendigo maiden win in May before another spell.

“He still looks a bit babyish,” Moroney said.

“I think we did the right thing in putting him away as he wasn’t that overly strong but still won his maiden really well.

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“He’s come back better and I think he’s got a bit of a future as a sprinter.”

Moroney said Wednesday’s race had some strong form lines and he would see how the three-year-old pulled up before setting his sights higher.

Moroney’s brother Paul paid $50,000 for Barthelona.

“He was pretty small but we both thought he was big enough,” Moroney said.

“After we bought him some of the guys from Under The Louvre wanted a share in him and came in on him.”

Maloney has had an association with Under The Louvre and said the two half-brothers have similar characteristics.

“I’ve done a fair bit of trackwork on Under The Louvre,” Maloney said.

“And this one, he’s exactly the same. He’s very switched on.

“He’s only a pony but he’s in for a good career.

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