Sandown Cup trip query with Vengeur Masque

Trainer Mike Moroney will start Vengeur Masque in the Sandown Cup to test his staying credentials.

Mike Moroney wants to find out for sure if imported stayer Vengeur Masque is a genuine stayer.

At his only start at 3200m, Vengeur Masque finished 15th behind Cross Counter in the Melbourne Cup, a run that left Moroney and connections wondering.

To put their minds at ease, Vengeur Masque runs over the distance again in Saturday’s Sandown Cup which they hope will answer any questions.

“His run in the Melbourne Cup was inconclusive because of the wet track which he doesn’t handle,” Moroney said.

“We’re thinking he may not get two miles. He obviously runs out 2600 metres all right but whether he runs any further, it’s inconclusive.

“He’s up and racing, fit, so we might as well find out.

“We know he’s got his share of weight and weight over that trip can sometimes stop them but when you look at the opposition it evens itself out.”

The Melbourne Cup has proven a good form reference to the Sandown Cup.

Almoonqith (2015) and Qewy (2016) both ran in the Cup before winning at Sandown.

Moroney says Saturday’s race will shed light on what Vengeur Masque does for the remainder of the season.

“We gave him a light autumn to aim at the Melbourne Cup to be at his best,” Moroney said.

“He’s lightly raced and this will be telling us whether we keep him at two-mile races or drop him back to a mile-and-a-half.

“There’s thought of going to New Zealand for the Wellington Cup. There’s races in Sydney like the Chairman’s and there’s the Brisbane Cup around the mile-and-a-half.

“There’s plenty of options, we’ve just got to work out where to put him.”

Vengeur Masque carries top weight of 60kg and will be ridden by regular jockey Patrick Moroney.