Berisha scores upset Mornington Cup win
Winning the Mornington Cup has secured lightly raced Berisha an important spring date.
Saturday’s victory in the 2400m Listed race has earned the Robert Smerdon-trained gelding automatic entry into October’s Caulfield Cup.
Ridden by Daniel Moor, Berisha ($26) charged home to score by a nose from Big Memory ($11) with Lucky Lucky Lucky ($41) 1-3/4 lengths away third.
Berisha ran the trip in 2min25.42secs, taking more than four seconds off the 2400m Mornington record.
Stuart Webb, representing Smerdon, said the trainer had concerns about Berisha running the trip.
But some form students involved in the ownership devised a plan for the four-year-old.
“It’s great having people in the horse like Deane Lester and Mark Hunter helping do the form,” Webb said.
“It was a brutally run race but it was also pointed out that the Cup hasn’t been that long standing at the distance.
“But to come out of a poor barrier, go all the way back and do that, it was outstanding.”
Webb pointed out that it was Berisha’s second campaign since joining the Smerdon stable from Murray Johnston.
Moor rode Berisha to instructions and turning for home he was confident of hauling in the runner-up.
“To my judgment they went quite slick and we had a really good resting run back on the fence,” Moor said.
“They were the instructions to get the trip and he was strong and effective at that trip.”
Moor, who has had a good association with Smerdon since his days as an apprentice, is hoping to continue his partnership with Berisha.
“I’ll stand outside his box with a baseball bat to keep the big boys away,” he said.
The Mornington Cup has not been a happy race for the Tony McEvoy Big Memory who filled the runner-up position for the second time in as many years.
The $1.95 favourite Tom Melbourne set a furious tempo before compounding to finish 10th.
Rider Ben Melham said the Lee and Anthony Freedman-trained import was too keen for his first try at 2400m.
“He had Mujadale breathing down his neck and just ran it too solid,” Melham said.
Stewards reported Tom Melbourne had been galloped on behind during the race.