A Listed winner at his second run at Flemington before spelling, the Mike Moroney trained Merion resumed from his winter break with a fourth in the Listed MVRC McKenzie Stakes last month.
A fitter competitor this time around, he travelled well for Steven Arnold in
the run and then had enough left at the finish to hold off a late dive from
Chivalry to win the 1400 metre contest by a nose.Both three year-olds performed well and look set for some good battles this spring.
"He was really relaxed today and stayed on well," said Steve Arnold.
"He's still learning and has nice ability."
Mike Moroney has Merion in all the major spring events with the Caulfield Guineas on October 11 his first major target.
Merion was a $200,000 NZB Premier purchase for bloodstock agent Paul Moroney from the Valachi Downs draft and has won three of four starts earning $160,900 in prizemoney.
He is the second winner for stakes-winning Danske mare Sapphire Belle, who comes from the family of multiple Group I winner Alibhai.
Valachi Downs owner Kevin Hickman is also the owner/breeder of star O'Reilly mare Silent Achiever, so he knows a thing or two about breeding a good O'Reilly!
