Feature racing in Victoria heads to Mornington this Saturday for the running of the Listed Mornington Cup.
There are nine races on the card on what is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated race meetings of the year for race goers and punters alike.
We have analysed every race on the card and offer our full 2021 Mornington Cup Day Preview and betting suggestions below.
Race 1 – 12:15pm AEDT – Cleanaway Sustainable Sires (1500m)
Micro is the most obvious choice in the opening race of the day having placed in his last two.
I think the market has this one about right and with little form to go on, I’m happy to stay out from a betting persepctive.
Race 2 – 12:50pm AEDT – Benchmark 84 Handicap (2000m)
Mahashakti has now won four of her five career race starts including her last four in a row.
She was sent out favourite at The Valley last start carrying 60.5kg and won by over a length and although this is a big step up in grade, she gets plenty of weight relief.
Race 3 – 1:25pm AEDT – Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m)
Diamondesque returned from a spell at Ladbrokes Park when getting within two lengths of Heka Express over 1000m.
The daughter of Snitzel was far from disgraced at her next run in the Typhoon Tracy at The Valley before finishing third last start.
She represents good value at double figure odds.
Race 4 – 2:05pm AEDT – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m)
Four year old mare Marabi is having only her third race start in the fourth race of the day at Mornington.
The daughter of I Am Invincible’s two wins have been by a combined 13 lengths and she is clearly a mare with a fair amount of ability.
She has a heap of upside and I get the feeling she will progress to a better grade of racing than this, and we should capitalise on her way through.
Race 5 – 2:45pm AEDT – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m)
War Correspondent is yet finish outside the top two in eight career starts and the three year old gelding is now shooting for four wins on the trot.
All of his racing has been in Tasmania but there is nothing to suggest that he can not measure up on the mainland.
He was dominant when winning by 2.5 lengths last start at Launceston in an open grade three year old race and a repeat of that would see him go close here.
Race 6 – 3:25pm AEDT – Mornington Guineas (1600m)
Dom To Shoot has been a touch disappointing in his two runs on the eastern seaboard after a really good campaign in Perth over their carnival.
The son of Shooting To Win has placed in 10 of his 15 career race starts but his fifth in the C.S Hayes first up is his best result in Melbourne so far.
He will appreciate the drop down in class for this and should be figuring late.
Race 7 – 4:10pm AEDT – Listed Mornington Cup (2400m)
This really is an excellent edition of the Mornington Cup.
Mount Popa is an extremely talented and lightly raced stayer who comes into this race in red hot form.
He rolled up to the smart Sacramento at Randwick last start and went passed him with ease to score by a length.
The six year old gelding has a huge amount of upside and he will be very tough to beat.
I have to have something on Chapada who will appreciate the step up in distance at this stage of his prep after a third in the Australian Cup.
Defibrillate is another that represents some value and is racing really well.
He found them a bit sharp in the Australian Cup but he was working to the line well.
Race 8 – 4:50pm AEDT – Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m)
Ancestry has now managed nine wins from 15 career race starts after a dominant performance at The Valley last weekend.
He never gave his rivals a chance as he straightened up in front and forged clear, running right through the line to score by 2.2 lengths on the line.
He again looks tough to beat.
Race 9 – 5:25pm AEDT – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m)
Imperial Lad returned this prep after being gelded and is yet to miss a place in five runs.
The four year old gelding has been beaten less than half a length at his past two runs and this race does not look much harder than those two.
Willy Pike in the last!