Trainer Mike Moroney was beginning to question himself prior to imported galloper Alenquer working at Moonee Valley.
The trainer left The Valley on Tuesday morning in a better frame of mind after watching the entire work ahead of the $5 million All Star Mile at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Moroney was disappointed after Alenquer’s 1200m jump-out at Flemington last Friday where the entire sported blinkers.
There were no blinkers on Tuesday with Moroney fitting a tongue tie to Alenquer for the gallop which the entire will also wear on Saturday.
“I was really impressed with him,” Moroney said.
“It’s the first time that I’ve thought that we might be working him out.
“The first time I got a bit worried was after his jump-out last week after we blinkered him up.
“I thought they would improve him out of sight, but they didn’t, and he had a decent blow and I thought, ‘I’ve got it wrong’.
“I was glad I brought him here today and saw what I saw.”
Moroney said he had spoken to the previous manager of the horse who also rode him in trackwork who was able to answer a few questions.
The trainer believed Alenquer had swallowed his tongue in last week’s jump-out and the blinkers had only been applied for the entire’s last start in Europe as his connections were searching for answers.
“I think we’ve found out in the nick of time, and I’ve gone from being happy to starting to question myself to happy again,” Moroney said.
“It seems now the questions have been answered and he looked more tractable here the second time.”
Jordan Childs is the last piece of the puzzle having picked up the ride following the recent falls in Melbourne that have sidelined Jamie Kah, Craig Williams and Ethan Brown while a number are also Sydney bound for the Golden Slipper meeting in Sydney on Saturday.