Hang Man ready for next step at Sandown

Trainer Mike Moroney hopes the imported Hang Man can take another step when he lines up at Sandown.

Trainer Mike Moroney is prepared to be patient with imported stayer Hang Man.

The Flemington-based horseman has already signalled his intention to bypass the spring with the lightly raced gelding.

Hang Man came to Australia after one start in England and will have his sixth start on Wednesday in the Ladbrokes Back Yourself Handicap at Sandown.

Moroney plans to run Hang Man three more times this preparation with a view to getting his rating up before he is sent for a break.

“He’s only a young horse still and while we’ve got him going in good form we thought we’d try and get him through the classes as much as we can,” Moroney said.

“We plan on giving him this one and possibly two more all going well and then go to the paddock after that.

“He’ll probably have two in this sort of grade and then maybe a Saturday grade race to get his rating up, all going well.”

Hang Man finished second for trainer Ed Vaughan at Ascot over 2400m on debut and not long after was sent to Australia.

Moroney said his bloodstock agent brother Paul was in the ownership of Hang Man when he raced in England and he and Vaughan had stayed on as partners with other Moroney stable clients.

The trainer has so far liked what he has seen from Hang Man who won over 1850m at Terang in April and 2200m at Bendigo last month with a Warrnambool placing in between.

“He did have his first start at a mile-and-a-half (2400m) and he was beaten a nose and this is his first go at that trip for us,” Moroney said.

“But he ran the 2200 metres out well last time.

“He’s quite a short-coupled horse. He’s not a big lengthy stayer and he’ll be competitive from a mile up I would think.

“We’re going to see just how far we can get with him.

“We’ll get him to these staying trips and see how well he races at them.”

Hang Man has been posted the $2 favourite with Tea For Choux second pick at $6 on race eve.