Picture primed to add colour to Flemington

Friday 13 June 2014, 11:34am

Picture Editor has been in Australia for more than two years but trainer Mike Moroney says the import is finally in peak condition.

The six-year-old beat multiple Group One winner Nathaniel on debut and took on superstar Frankel at his fourth start before Moroney's brother Paul bought the stayer at a tried horse sale in England in 2011.

Picture Editor has built a reasonable record in Australia with wins at Warrnambool and Morphettville but Moroney is convinced the stayer is ready to improve rapidly, starting with Saturday's heat of the Banjo Paterson Series (2500m) at Flemington.

Craig Newitt has the task of negating Picture Editor's tricky draw of barrier 10, which means securing cover is the rider's main priority.

"I think he's going as well as we've ever had him and he's really acclimatised now," Moroney told Melbourne radio RSN.

"It's just a pity that he hasn't drawn a barrier because he can use a good gate (to take a prominent position)."

"He probably wants a little bit of cover because he can over-race in the clear a little bit."

Moroney's other Flemington runner Shenzhou Steeds has not won since his seven-length success in the 2012 Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast.

Shenzhou Steeds finished second in the Group Three Tatt's Cup last year before posting a run of nine unplaced runs.

But the six-year-old showed his winning drought could end soon with his solid first-up fourth at Sandown on May 31.

Shenzhou Steeds will race in restricted company for the first time since April 2012 when he tackles rating 90 company in the LV Lachal Handicap (1800m).

"I thought his first-up run was good and it was more like the old Shenzhou Steeds," Moroney said.

"He does need give in the ground so this really should be his time of the year."

– AAP

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