Vow And Declare heads strong field for 2023 Mornington Cup
Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare headlines the strong field for the 2023 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s feature on the nine-race program offers the winner ballot exemption to the 2023 Caulfield Cup on October 21.
Carrying the top-weight in the 2400m affair will be the Danny O’Brien-trained Vow And Declare, who looks to add the Mornington feature to his name alongside wins in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Zipping Classic (2400m).
He heads to Mornington on the back of two runner-up efforts behind Right You Are and a close fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on March 25.
Right You Are is set for his 11th start this campaign and will be looking to bounce back from a hefty defeat behind the undefeated White Marlin in the Group 3 Easter Cup at Sandown.
Heading the market at $4.40 with online bookmakers is Hezashocka, who managed to finish on the heels of Anamoe in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and is looking for his first win since taking out a handicap event at Flemington back in July last year.
Saturday’s race will be just the second time Hezashocka steps out over 2400m, and the first time since running in the 2021 Group 1 Queensland Derby, where he finished 10.7 lengths back in 10th place.
Looking to go one better in the race is the Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist, who finished second behind Mount Popa in this race 12 months ago and will be wanting to bounce back from a below-par performance in the Group 1 Australian Cup after smashing his rivals in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes.
Last-start Group 2 Adelaide Cup winner Rebel Racer joins the likes of Benaud, Port Philip and Gear Up in seeking that golden ticket into one of the premier staying events on the Australian horse racing calendar.
2023 Listed Mornington Cup Field
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