In form Moloney benched again

Apprentice Patrick Moloney has been riding the crest of a wave over the past week.

But careless riding suspensions are set to halt his momentum with one already hanging over his head from Moonee Valley last week and another handed down at Sandown on Wednesday.

Five winners at the past three city meetings have the recently turned 21-year-old in peak form with doubles at Moonee Valley last Friday night and Sandown on Wednesday along with a victory at Sandown on Saturday.

The Racing And Disciplinary Board will hear his appeal against the Moonee Valley suspension on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Moloney was given an 11-meeting ban for shifting in during the final stages of his winning ride on Cool, the second leg of his Sandown double.

It could have been worse with stewards withdrawing a charge for an earlier incident in the race after senior jockey and Moloney’s adviser Glen Boss, successfully arguing the pace slackened dramatically.

Injury robbed Moloney of the Melbourne apprentice riders premiership last year and, after a slow start, he was just starting to hit top gear again.

“Everything is going gangbusters at the moment,” Moloney said after guiding Cool to victory.

“It’s good to be kicking back off. The suspensions haven’t helped me but it’s good to be back in winning form.”

Cool notched a winning hat-trick and gave trainer John Moloney his seventh winner from his past 12 runners when he scored by a neck.

Moloney, Patrick’s uncle, said Cool would now be given a break after progressing from a maiden win at Cranbourne to success at Kyneton and on to another win at a Sandown midweek fixture.

“He’s only a young horse so I’ll give him a break now,” Moloney said.

“He can get out and have a bit of a rest now and come back a late autumn horse.”

Moloney said Cool was eligible for Super VOBIS and said he would not be setting his sights to high next campaign.

“If he could come up for a Saturday race they’re as valuable as any you could try,” Moloney said.

“He doesn’t need to be chasing the biggest and best and he can do that in time.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au

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