The talented Pencarrow Stud-bred galloper Rhythm to Spare (Pins) displayed an abundance of potential as he dominated the A$80,000 Superior Food Services Rating 90 at Caulfield on One Thousand Guineas day.

The Mike Moroney trained four-year-old disappointed at his last start, finishing last when well-backed on the tote and expected to win. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a cardiac arrhythmia was to blame for the poor performance.

The son of Pins bounced back to his best form yesterday with an impressive 2.3 length win. Regular rider Glen Boss had not lost any faith in his mount and stuck with him after his last-start defeat.

Boss was able to position the four-year-old gelding mid-field in the capacity-sized field. The pair travelled into the race easily approaching the home straight and Rhythm to Spare let down with an explosive turn of foot to hit the front with 200m to go. The gelding showed he is still raw with his ability as he hung in over the concluding stages however the race was in safe keeping and Boss able to let him coast to the line.

Rhythm to Spare was a winner fresh up this preparation back in August following a successful three-year-old campaign where he was Group 3 placed and ran fourth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby.

“He is a horse with a lot of ability,” stated Moroney. “We have always thought he was Group class and hopefully he is going to be Group 1 class.

“There was quite a bad wind at Caulfield yesterday and Bossy (jockey Glen Boss) thought that was what caused him to duck in.

“When he got away from the field the wind got hold of him a bit but in saying that he has done that before. We put the blinkers on thinking that might straighten him out and he went dead straight when he won at Sandown so hopefully Bossy is right and it was just the wind because he did duck back into the rail quite badly.

“We think he will get further, His mother was placed in the Avondale Cup when it was still Group 1, he is by Pins, and we really think he will be a nice mile-and-a-quarter horse.

“He ran second in the Rough Habit Plate to Hawkspur as a three-year-old when he drew a bad barrier and Hawkspur drew a good one. We didn’t think there was much between them over the winter. We tried him over a mile-and-a-half in the Derby, he went well enough but he didn’t quite see out the trip.

“We are hoping we make the Group 1 Emirates Stakes on the last day of the Spring Carnival. We may have to give him another run, which is not quite ideal, so there is a possibility he may go the Sale Cup on Sunday week which will give him more less two weeks into the Emirates Stakes. He has to get his rating up to guarantee a start in the Emirates.”

The winner of four races from nine appearances, Rhythm to Spare started his career in New Zealand running second at his first two starts before transferring to his Melbourne stable with his four wins earning connections A$ $151,989.

Bred by Peter & Philip Vela, Rhythm to Spare was purchased by Paul Moroney, Mike’s brother, at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $100,000 from Pencarrow Stud and is raced by Mr M D Moroney, 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 Nettlefold & R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd.

A son of leading sire Pins, Rhythm to Spare is out of Group 1 Avondale Cup runner-up Stanica, a daughter of the great Zabeel whose deeds as a broodmare sire are becoming as impressive as his deeds as sire.

Stanica is out of Sunday Silence mare Love Connection who, in turn, is out of triple US stakes winner Pleasureconnection (Danzig Connection). Stanica has a full brother to Rhythm to Spare that has been retained by Stud to race, and she was due to be served by All Too Hard this season.