VOLEUSE GETS TO WORK

Mike Moroney, wearing tracksuit pants, jumper and thongs despite the wintry conditions at Werribee yesterday, won a Melbourne Cup with Brew in 2000 but he conceded the way he prepares his new stable addition, former Irish mare Voleuse De Couers will be vastly different.

Brew had lead-up runs in races like the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and Saab Quality in the final two weeks before the Melbourne Cup but Voleuse De Couers goes to Flemington without a race since her Irish St Leger win in mid-September.

Voleuse De Coeurs only arrived in Melbourne last Saturday and was restricted to light exercise only yesterday.

“The first 48 hours after they arrive is a crucial time,’’ Moroney said. “She is a mare that doesn’t carry a lot of condition and she is just starting to turn in the coat slightly, as are all the other overseas horses as it was going into winter in the northern hemisphere.

“They must eat, drink plenty of water and their temperature has to stay in the normal range and so far so good with her.

“It’s early days, she will only do some walking and cantering for the next few days and we will look go start stepping up her training later in the week.”

Moroney said the bonus is that overseas horses like Voleuse De Coeurs are “natural’’ stayers and come to Melbourne in peak fitness.

“She had a couple of gallops before leaving and the plan is to give her two pieces of fast work before the race,” Moroney (below) revealed.

– Daily Telegraph 22 October