Tivaci Queensland bound for Guineas
Mike Moroney will put Tivaci’s Group One ambitions on hold and get him ready for the Queensland Guineas.
Moroney said the Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 11, the same day as the Group Two Queensland Guineas, had been his aim but he believed Tivaci would struggle to get a start.
“We were going to try and make the Stradbroke but I think it will be pretty hard for him to make that field,” Moroney said.
“Realistically the Guineas is more his target.”
Tivaci hasn’t raced since finishing eighth in the Bendigo Guineas last month.
It followed a 12th placing behind Palentino in the Australian Guineas at Flemington two weeks earlier.
Tivaci earned himself a stakes win over Palentino when controversially awarded the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington following a successful protest by Craig Williams against Mark Zahra in February.
His trainer is now looking to build on that success and says the Guineas (1600m) should be ideal.
“We’re keen on taking him up for there for the Guineas, especially with him being a colt,” Moroney said.
“He’s had a short break after his last run and he’s now back in the stable.
“We’ll probably give him a trial in Sydney on the way up and then have a lead-up run somewhere before the Guineas.”
Tivaci is unbeaten in two first-up runs and has won three of his nine starts.