Stable lands emotional double

Glen Thompson may now be the official trainer at Ballymore Stables in Australia, but the spirit of Mike Moroney lives on.

BENAGIL winning the VOBIS Platinum Guineas at Caulfield in Australia.
BENAGIL winning the VOBIS Platinum Guineas at Caulfield in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos

Nothing will ease the pain of the loss of Mike Moroney but a double at Caulfield on Saturday will keep his spirit alive. 

The Ballymore Stables at Flemington are now run by Glen Thompson who joined Moroney in a training partnership at the start of the current season. 

Moroney's name was listed in the racebook on Saturday, although Racing Australia made the change to place the stable in Thompson's care on Friday. 

Bankers Choice provided the Flemington-based stable with a winner in the opening race on Saturday, the DCE Handicap (2400m) before Benagil took out the VOBIS Platinum Guineas (1600m). 

Long time racing manager Anthony Feroce said it had been an emotional time for the entire stable dealing with Moroney's death just over two weeks ago. 

"That's fantastic," Feroce said following Bankers Choice's victory. 

"We had Mike's memorial on Tuesday, and we've got the funeral (in New Zealand) on Monday and that's just a lovely way to start the day. 

"For Glen, that'll be great for him. He's a trainer on his own right now, so it's a great start." 

Feroce said Bankers Choice would likely be set for the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) in May. 

Thompson was at Rosehill to saddle Coeur Volante in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic on Saturday when Benagil staged a huge performance to take out the VOBIS Platinum Guineas coming from near the tail of the field turning for home. 

The filly had been slated to run in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Saturday, but Feroce said they had made the right decision in bypassing Treasurethe Moment

"The original plan was to run last week, but we didn't think we could beat Matt Laurie's very good filly, so we decided to bypass that and come here, and it's worked out really well," Feroce said. 

"Our plan has always been to go to the Australasian Oaks in Adelaide, so we'll have a chat with Phil (Campbell) and whatever, and we'll see what happens." 


Racing and Sports

Caulfield

Saturday, 15th March 2025

5
14:30
(local)

The IRT VOBIS Platinum Guineas

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $500,000
1600m TURF GOOD
5
14:30
(local)
AUD $500,000
1600m GOOD

The IRT VOBIS Platinum Guineas

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 8. BENAGIL (AUS) 3yo F
MANHATTAN RAIN (AUS) - DES MOINES (AUS)
MICHAEL DEE
GLEN THOMPSON
$6.5
56kg
P E & Mrs P A Campbell, R L Byrnes, Mrs A M Byrnes & T P Doyle
2nd 2. ATHANATOS (AUS) 3yo G
I AM IMMORTAL (AUS) - MUMBEILLY (NZ)
DANIEL STACKHOUSE
PHILLIP STOKES
$3.6
58kg
Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock Pty Ltd, A Sophoulis, Ms A Tammer, Mrs S Newnham, Peacock Racing, Brittain Racing, G Towers, P Gallivan, Ms V Edwards, Mrs A Farren, D Farren, G Decorso, Mrs K Dunstan, L Dunstan, Mrs E Newton-Brown, K Smart & G Michalopoulos
3rd 11. HURRICANE GEORGIE (AUS) 3yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - EDWINA GEORGIE (AUS)
BEN MELHAM
MICK PRICE & MICHAEL KENT JNR
$18
56kg
L G C Le Metayer, Two Bays Farm, J L Katelanis, P H Hunt, D A Vedelago, Miss W J Williams, C J Atkins & Mrs P M Schloss

Sales Information

4th 1. ZORRO'S FLIGHT (AUS) 3yo G
TORONADO (IRE) - DOVE'S CRY (AUS)
BILLY EGAN
PATRICK & MICHELLE PAYNE
$17
58kg
5th 10. PERFECT PICTURE (AUS) 3yo F
TORONADO (IRE) - TAKE A SELFIE (AUS)
JAMIE MOTT
GRAHAME BEGG
$6
56kg
6th 5. TAUNG (AUS) 3yo G
TURFFONTEIN (AUS) - MISS ELSA (AUS)
CIAN MACREDMOND
MATT CUMANI
$91
58kg

Sales Information

7th 12. MISS PLAYLOUNGE (AUS) 3yo F
SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) - COERCED WITNESS (AUS)
MARK ZAHRA
CLINTON MCDONALD
$21
56kg

Sales Information

8th 9. GELLHORN (AUS) 3yo F
OMAHA BEACH (USA) - SIGRID (AUS)
ETHAN BROWN
MICHAEL KENT
$8
56kg
9th 6. BIT OF SHOOSH (AUS) 3yo G
SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) - QUIETLY (AUS)
JAMIE MELHAM
BEN, WILL & JD HAYES
$3.9
58kg

Sales Information

10th 7. MANIFEST THE MILLI (AUS) 3yo G
PUISSANCE DE LUNE (IRE) - WANGAALA (AUS)
DAMIAN LANE
DANNY O'BRIEN
$101
58kg

Sales Information

11th 4. KING'S CORONATION (AUS) 3yo C
STRASBOURG (AUS) - AUTUMN ZEST (AUS)
JOE BOWDITCH
DOUG HARRISON
$151
58kg

Sales Information