Racing: Victory would help to dispel the gloom

If the Mike Moroney-trained Wit And Polish is ever going to win a race, he will never pick a more timely one than the maiden 2100m at Avondale today.

The Danasinga debutante is co-owned by Moroney's former Matamata partner Andrew Scott, who needs a reason to smile more than most after a visit from racecourse inspector Bryan McKenzie yesterday.

McKenzie officially charged Scott with two serious racing offences relating to Ballymore runner Realign racing in blinkers in the NZ Bloodstock Classique without a rubber stamp.

Realign finished ninth in the 11- horse field, almost seven lengths adrift of winner Wahid.

It is Scott's second major brush with the judiciary in the last 18 months.

He was fined $5000, and ordered to pay $1600 in costs, for injecting Penny Gem with a homeopathic remedy just hours before the 2003 Kelt Capital Stakes.

Scott, who voluntarily relinquished his trainer's licence last week, will know the outcome of the Classique incident after a Judicial Control Authority hearing at Te Rapa racecourse next Tuesday.

Regardless of the result, however, Moroney and his brother, Paul Moroney, have vowed to stand by Scott, who was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Paul Moroney expects to make an official application for a trainer's licence this week but said the new title alongside his Melbourne-based brother is likely to be temporary.

"Andrew will almost certainly come back as co-trainer with Mike," said the long-time stable manager.

"He's a talented young guy who has made a mistake and he knows he'll have to pay for it.

"He's very remorseful about his actions and he knows he has let himself down and the Ballymore brand and he's taking that very hard."

Moroney is also quick to quash any talk of Scott being the fall-guy for a stable cover-up.

"I've heard all the conspiracy theories, that this is a cover-up to save the Moroney brothers, but it's nothing like that.

"Andrew acted unilaterally, as he did in the Penny Gem situation, and took a course of action that he didn't need to take.

"But he'll come back, of course, and continue to be an integral part of the stable."

Meanwhile, the Moroneys have drafted in former stable foreman Chris Stewart and top jockey Jim Collett to breach the gap.

"Andrew can throw his leg over a horse in trackwork and pick up things others wouldn't, and we see Jim Collett in the same vein," said Moroney.

Trackwork reports suggest Wit And Polish could be the silver lining to a cloudy fortnight for Scott today.

Although the three-year-old makes his debut over 2100m, Moroney feels the talented son of an Invercargill Gold Cup winner will cope.

"We're expecting a really bold race from him," he said.

"He's trained on well and is right up to the mark - he's a definite winning chance in what doesn't seem to be an overly strong field."

Exciting stablemate Stravigent could find himself booked for a Queensland winter campaign if he rounds out a hat-trick of wins, as most punters will demand, in the progressive 1600m today.

Only a wide draw cost the Stravinsky gelding a start in Mandela's Wellington Stakes over the cup carnival.

"He's probably still six months away from the top grade but he's a smart horse and a great chance for the hat-trick," said Moroney.