2017 Mornington Cup betting guide, form and free tips, March 25
THE stayers are back in town at Mornington this Saturday and we have a full betting guide with form and free tips for every race on the card.
The $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup sees the return of international trainer Charlie Appleby who dominated the Melbourne spring carnival and he brings a talented six-year-old with him this time.
The Gold Trail is carrying plenty of betting support and punters are hoping the European form stands up once again, but there’s 15 other stayers keen to keep the Mornington Cup in Australia.
There’s some great racing on the card which includes the Hareeba Stakes, 2YO Sires and the Mornington Guineas which ensures excitement throughout the card.
Race 1 – Windows Warehouse Handicap (1000m)
Capanello couldn’t fire in the Inglis Dash, but it drops way back in grade and it has been heavily-supported in the betting. The Robbie Griffiths-trained gelding was a winner two back at Flemington and its only poor efforts have come against quality opposition. It looks well-placed at $3.80 with bookmakers.
El Sicario is a talented gelding which scored a three length maiden win at Pakenham over a subsequent winner and it made good ground at Moonee Valley last start. The Busuttin/Young-trained three-year-old will appreciate the slight rise up in distance and it gets every chance with the light weight.
Aunty Mo is a five-time winner which has yet to run at Mornington. The Moonee Valley specialist only narrowly suffered defeat last time out and all five wins have come at this distance. Expect it to go forward and be tough to run down at odds of $6.
Race 1 tip: Capanello to win ($3.80) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (1200m)
Viatrix is a quality filly which comes into this following a win at Moonee Valley. The Hawkes-trained three-year-old produced a tough win after getting challenged throughout and dropping in weight to 55kg is ideal. Consider as a winning hope at $5.
Miles Of Krishan is fresh up after a successful campaign which included back-to-back wins. The Greg Eurell-trained mare scored quality wins at Sale and Geelong before running fifth in the Summoned Stakes at Sandown. That came behind Silent Sedition which is a quality type and it has won and placed fresh up in the past. Looks a nice chance at $6.
El Rada is the equal favourite at $5 following a last start second placing behind Viatrix. The Archie Alexander-trained mare got slightly too far back in the run and would appreciate settling closer here. It has drawn wide, but it has enough ability to overcome that.
Race 2 tip: Miles Of Krishan to win (+500) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 3 – Progress Signs R90 Handicap (2000m)
Try Four is a winner of 11 from 35 starts which is a great record and it’s overdue a win this campaign. The Darren Weir-trained gelding ran on late behind Aloft at Flemington last start and that should be a good form guide for this. It won’t spend a penny from the inside draw and it should be tough to beat.
Red Alto produced three consecutive wins this preparation before running disappointingly last start at Flemington. The son of Hugh Chaparral didn’t handle the rise in distance and it goes up to the 2000m for this. That shouldn’t bode well for the Paul Banks-trained runner, but it’s carrying support at $4.60.
Gladstone comes over from Tasmania with a solid record and an each way chance. The seven-year-old finished seventh in the Launceston Cup behind subsequent winner Big Duke and that form should be strong for this. $7 suggests it’s not without a hope.
Race 3 tip: Try Four to win ($3.80) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – Martin Collins 2YO Sires (1500m)
Toga Picta was a narrow winner on debut at Wyong before coming to Flemington and running fourth. The John O’Shea-trained colt battled on well in the VRC Sires’ and Craig Williams takes over the riding duties which is ideal. It opened at $3 and has drifted to $3.10, but expect good tote support.
Punters should forgive the effort of Eshtiraak last start after it blundered the start. The Lindsay Park-trained two-year-old dwelt out of the barriers and only battled into sixth behind Sircconi, but its three straight wins prior were full of class. It is firming in the betting at $2.50.
Peristrophe has been around the mark in three runs to date and has been specked at $8. The Robert Smerdon-trained filly finished second at Launceston two back before running fifth in the Thoroughbred Breeders at Flemington last start. Chance here with improvement.
Race 4 tip: Eshtiraak to win ($2.50) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 5 – Mitavite Challenge Final (1600m)
Fife didn’t look overly impressive when finishing eighth at Moonee Valley last start, but quick improvement is expected. The Smerdon-trained mare hadn’t raced since May of 2016, so the effort was understandable and having Craig Williams stick in the saddle is a positive. Expect a nice run at $4.40.
Backstreet Lover is an each way hope at $7 after some solid efforts this campaign. The Jason Warren-trained four-year-old has placed three times at this distance and it battled on solidly last time out at Sandown. This isn’t an easy race, so place options could be the way to go.
Strike Force is the current $3.10 favourite following a win in last Saturday’s Grand Handicap. The Michael Moroney-trained gelding handles all track conditions so that won’t be an issue and it looks a solid winning chance again. Carrying 59kg will make it harder and it’s not bomb proof.
Race 5 tip: Fife to win (+340) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Hareeba Stakes (1200m)
Bassett was an impressive winner at Moonee Valley by 2.25 lengths, but despite carrying plenty of support at $4.20, it will have to contend with a horror draw. The Mick Price-trained four-year-old has rattled off two straight wins which included a 4.5-length win at Sandown, but drawing barrier 16 will likely force it to drop back. Tough from there.
Prussian Vixen is a quality and underrated mare. The Michael Mehegan-trained runner won the Bellmaine Stakes over Silent Sedition last start and that form should be great for this. This is its home track where it has won two from three starts and it looks ideally placed to show its best. The $12 on offer is incredible value.
Secret Agenda is another well-supported type which has drawn wide. The Price-trained mare battled in the MSS Security Sprint last start, but its form prior was solid and it’s an adaptable type so the draw might not worry it so much. Consider here.
Race 6 tip: Prussian Vixen to win ($12) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Mornington Cup (2400m)
Assign didn’t make any headway when finishing last in the Victoria Cup last start, but it always performs well with the run under its belt. The Robert Hickmott-trained gelding has had four second-up starts for two wins and two placings, so punters should overlook its chances at odds of $14. It represents good each way value and it will get a good trip in transit.
The Gold Trail is the boom horse of the field and the $2.40 with bookmakers represents that. The highly-touted horse for Charlie Appleby has won its last two starts in Europe by a combined margin of six lengths and even moderate European form is good enough to win our staying races, let alone winning form. They’re going to have a tough time stopping this fellow and it looks a great betting investment.
Big Memory finally scored a win last start after a long drought and it deserves respect in this. The Tony McEvoy-trained stayer has form around some nice horses and its win in the Roy Higgins Quality should hold it in good stead for this. It has placed twice at this track and it’s worth a chance at $15.
Race 7 tip: The Gold Trail to win (+140) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Mornington Guineas (1600m)
Cliff Hanger produced an eye catching performance when second behind Farson in the Autumn Classic. The Freedman-trained gelding made good late ground and despite dropping back in distance for this, the inside draw is ideal and a top effort wouldn’t surprise many. It’s currently a solid betting chance at $6.
Soju Warrior couldn’t have been more impressive last start and the betting support has followed. The Mark Kavanagh-trained gelding scored by 6.7 lengths at Morphettville and although this is a massive rise in class, that winning margin has to be respected. It opened at $3.50 and the odds keep tumbling.
Red Is The Rose has been supported nicely at the bottom of the page. The Lindsay Park-trained filly was a 4.5-length winner two starts back at Sandown and it followed that up with a solid effort for fourth in the Kewney Stakes. The form out of that race will stand up at this level and the $5 suggests it has a good winning hope.
Race 8 tip: Soju Warrior to win ($3.20) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 9 – Cleanaway Handicap (1200m)
John O’Shea lines up Maternal which is fresh up after winning at Pakenham in December. The four-year-old mare has always shown consistent form at this level without looking like a superstar. This isn’t the hardest field and it could show its best with Craig Williams in the saddle.
Moss ‘n’ Dale has won five of its 10 career starts and it’s another fresh up hope. The Peter Gelagotis-trained four-year-old won its only start on this track and this distance which is a good sign and it has plenty of upside this campaign. The $4.20 available is a respectable price.
Just Magical is a past winner on this track and it has prepared for this with two runs. The five-year-old didn’t fire behind Stellar Collision last start, but this is easier and it gets some weight off its back. Not the worst at $7.50.
Race 9 tip: Moss ‘n’ Dale to win ($4.20) at CrownBet.com.au