After being brought to Australia with a career record of four wins from four starts in Italy, the gelding failed first up at Rosehill Gardens in April.

Eight weeks later and with a trial in between, Sapphire Of Patch will return to Rosehill for a Benchmark 84 event over 1800m.

Despite his career record reading two from two at the trip, including a Group 3 win, bookmakers have opened the four-year-old at $51 in early betting and Moroney agreed with their assessment.

“He’s been pretty disappointing. He hasn’t shown much at all,” Moroney told puntersshow.com.au.

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“We sent him to the trials and then decided we’d give him a bit of a freshen and wait for a bit of rain.

“We’re hoping he’ll improve but we’re not holding our breath. He certainly has been disappointing.

“We got him second hand from Hong Kong but he never raced there. He trialled and was then sent to us in Australia.”

One horse Moroney does expect to fire is Serenade, the early $3.80 favourite for the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich.

The half-sister to Group 1 winner Stratum Star was placed in the Listed Bright Shadow Handicap (1200m) at Doomben four weeks ago and admitted she had been kept in Queensland in pursuit of black type.

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“The step up to 1350m won’t be a problem and she should get a nice run from the draw (barrier three),” Moroney said.

“She’s been placed in three black type races and deserves to win one now.

“She’s a valuable filly and we’re just chasing black type now. She looks a good chance in this one.”

Completing Moroney’s three-state metropolitan assault on Saturday is Rhythm To Spare, a $26 chance in an Open event over 1600m at Moonee Valley.

“We thought his run in Adelaide last start was quite good but the rider reported he wants a wet track. Maybe that’s just because he’s older and feeling his joints a bit,” he said.

“We’re hoping we get that going into the weekend, that will certainly help his chances fourth up in this one.”