First riding treble for Patrick Moloney

By Craig Brennan

MELBOURNE, March 9 AAP - Apprentice Patrick Moloney has notched a career highlight with Taddei Tondo's win at Moonee Valley.

The victory in the 1200m benchmark 84 handicap on Monday was his first at a city track for his trainer Gerard Moloney and the third leg of a winning treble for the rider.

It also provided him with his 50th metropolitan success, reducing his claim to 1.5kg.

The 21-year-old, who spent time on the sidelines in 2014 with two broken ankles, has struck a rich vein of form in recent months and the treble was the first of his career.

Moloney got on a roll with his uncle, trainer John Moloney, notching metropolitan winners late last year.

"It's been a long road back from the broken ankles," Moloney said.

"It's taken a while but luckily the team started going well and I started to get noticed.

"Now I'm getting rides from Johnny Sadler, the Freedmans and Mike Moroney."

Monday's winners were supplied by Tom Hughes Jr (Chill Party) and John Sadler (Secret Blend) before Taddei Tondo's victory.

Moloney came from last on Taddei Tondo ($18), weaving a path in the straight to steer the five-year-old to a half-length win over General Jackson ($12).