Racing: Saab lets Moroney in a second time

By MIKE DILLON

MELBOURNE - Could history really repeat itself?

Could Mike Moroney really sneak a horse through the back door into a Melbourne Cup two years running and win it both times?

And is it prophetic the Victoria Racing Club has chosen Maythehorsebewithu as its advertising icon for this year's Melbourne Cup?

Ask Auckland-based part owner Gerard Peterson after Maythehorsebewithu grabbed a last-breath spot in tomorrow's $A4 million Melbourne Cup with his $A250,000 Saab Quality win on Saturday and he'll tell you he's got that Cup-winning feeling.

He had it when he won with Brew last year, who also won the Saab to sneak into the big race.

Moroney isn't so sure. At least he wasn't until the prospect of rain for tomorrow's cup.

"Last year I really had a Brew feeling.

"Brew was getting to his best strength-wise, while this horse is still a year away from his real strength."

But the real tip came a sentence or two later: "He'll grow another leg if it rains."

Forecasters have predicted an end to Saturday's brilliant weather with storms tomorrow morning followed by rain and showers.

Saturday was the first time Maythehorsebewithu had raced on a firm track. He handled that perfectly.c

Even more important, it was his first race in pacifiers, headgear which helps a horse's concentration late in a race.

Lack of concentration cost him last week's Geelong Cup when he was photofinished by Karasi out of the race that would have automatically put him into the Cup.

"He went up to win that race and started gazing around," said Moroney.

"We felt he might do too much [race fiercely] if we put blinkers on him, so pacifiers were the answer."

Several good judges and a few bookmakers were strongly tipping that the Melbourne Cup could not be won by a horse who raced on Saturday's lightning fast, hard track.

Moroney reported yesterday Maythehorsebewithu has pulled up with no leg soreness after his first try in the dry.

Winning rider Jason Patton was busy trying to shed 2.5kg to make tomorrow's 50kg weight.

A win by Maythehorsebewithu would be consolation for Moroney and Peterson, who were devastated when their main Cup chance, The Secondmortgage, had to be withdrawn after developing a virus late last week.

"I keep thinking he's had only the 14 starts," said Moroney of his Cup runner.

Shane Dye is flying in from Hong Kong to ride Spirit Of Westbury, who did nothing wrong in finishing second to Maythehorsebewithu in the Saab.

One bookmaker is nervous about Spirit Of Westbury. Three months ago a punter backed the Etheral-Spirit Of Westbury Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double to win $A1 million for a small outlay.