3 minute read

Bermadez had made a long overdue return to the winner’s circle at Flemington.

Trainer Mike Moroney is keen to give Bermadez another try at 2000m after his win at Flemington. 

Following three consecutive placings at Flemington, Caulfield and Geelong, Bermadez broke back into the winner's circle in the Howden Australian Guineas Day, 2 March (1600m) on Saturday. 

Sent out the $2.05 favourite under Jye Mcneil, Bermadez scored a short neck win over Beehunter ($7.50) with Suparazi ($2.25) a long head away third. 

Saturday's victory was Bermadez's first since scoring at the Warrnambool May Carnival in 2022. 

Moroney was heartened to see Bermadez chase down the placegetters in the final 150m which suggested the gelding will appreciate getting out in trip again. 

"I would like to have a go at 2000 metres with him now," Moroney said. 

"We had a go at the Ballarat Cup but that was very wet and also at the end of a long preparation, and it possibly wasn't the right time to have a go. 

"I think now that is possibly his trip as he is a little bit older now. He did take a while to pick them up today and I think he is in the right form to have a go at it now." 

A seven-year-old, Bermadez was lining up for only his 29th start on Saturday and showed he still has the zest for racing. 

However, Moroney said he would not be aiming too high, preferring to keep the gelding to an open handicap, or another benchmark race, preferably at Flemington. 

"He's pretty lightly raced for one reason or another as he had a lot of maturity things go wrong as a young horse and I think he's got another good 12 months racing in him," Moroney said. 

"He's never been straight forward. 

"He went sore in both shoulders as a younger horse and we thought he'd never race, but we got him back after a long time out. 

"Whether he's been 100 per cent right, I don't know, but he's racing pretty well now." 

Thrilling finish in the first!

Bermadez salutes for the first time since May 2022.@BallymoreStabls @JyeMcNeil pic.twitter.com/RmFlt75RuU

— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) January 20, 2024