The highly talented Pencarrow-bred galloper Rhythm to Spare (Pins x Stanica) reaffirmed the high opinion trainer Mike Moroney has of him with a dominant Group 3 victory at Morphettville yesterday.

The son of Pencarrow Racing’s Group 1 Avondale Cup placegetter Stanica (Zabeel), Rhythm to Spare has always been held in high regard by Moroney, evident by the Melbourne-based trainer taking him to Sydney for a Group 1 Doncaster Handicap campaign.

Things did not go to plan in Sydney and the Pins gelding returned to Melbourne with a strong victory on Anzac Day at Flemington for leading jockey Damien Oliver.

Oliver retained the mount in Saturday’s Group 3 A$150,320 Tapestry Shiraz R A Lee Stakes (1600m) and angled Rhythm to Spare to the back of the field from the outside barrier of 14. Approaching the straight the pair improved and were travelling the best upon turning, the four-year-old gelding striding to the front effortlessly and waltzing away to win by 3.6 lengths under a hold.

“I thought it was a most impressive victory,” commented Moroney. “He got a long way back, came to the outside and picked them up to win pulling up. He showed a really good turn of foot and is a lot stronger now.”

Rhythm to Spare started his career in New Zealand, placing at his first two starts before being transferred to Moroney’s Melbourne stable. The gelding has come a long way and is continually improving his racing manners explains Moroney.

“He is pretty lightly raced and is learning to relax more during the running now. He was a bit of a fierce running horse at times but he has learnt to relax and produce himself at the right time. It has taken a while to get him to do that but he has the talent and it is a matter of harnessing that and it looks as though he is starting to do that.

“He is more than likely going to the paddock now, there is talk about going to the Stradbroke but I’m leaning towards the paddock. The first thing Damien Oliver mentioned was the Stradbroke, he said he is in great form and could be worth taking up there. He has done a lot of travelling though and I want to turn him out on a good note, sometimes you can go to the well too often.

“The half-sister [Makarska, by Keeper] won quite impressively last week at Te Rapa so the family is doing well.”

Yesterday’s victory was the sixth win from 16 starts for the four-year-old, earning A$331,470 for a large group of owners headed by Moroney along with G G Ltd, Mr J A O'Neill, Carty Racing, Mr A Dunne, Mr M Pejic, Mrs J Pejic, Mr G Devonport, Ms J A N Lee, Mr M G Dominello, Mrs E Dominello, Mr R S Scheriani, Mrs A Scheriani, Mr B D Nettlefold & R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd.

Trainer Mike Moroney’s brother and bloodstock agent Paul Moroney purchased Rhythm to Spare for NZ$100,000 at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale.

Bred by Sir Peter & Philip Vela, Rhythm to Spare is out of Stanica (Zabeel), the dam of Makarska - a 3.3 length winner last weekend at Te Rapa - and Stanica Star (Danzero), a winner of seven races. Rhythm to Spare is also from the family of world champion racehorse Game on Dude (Awesome Again).

Stanica was served last season by four-time Group 1 winner All Too Hard, a half-brother to world champion sprinter Black Caviar.