Mornington Preview: Saturday 20th April by Dean McHugh

Mornington will host an exciting ten-race card this Saturday, the 20th of April. The feature race of the day is the Sportsbet Mornington Cup which carries a total prize pool of $300,000. 

Read on as we preview each of the ten races on Mornington’s Saturday Card.

Race 1: Asset Painting Services Mornington Sires (1200m)

An open contest kicks off Saturday’s card, and a field of ten will head down to post. Exclusively for two-year-olds, there are several exciting horses in the field, but it is Perspiration who is likely to jump off as the favourite. 

Yet to win in any of his two previous starts, he has been hampered by poor starts on both occasions but is ideally drawn here. If he can string it all together, he could be tough to pass. 

Brighella represents powerful connections and was a good winner on debut; he should be watched with real interest.

Race 2: Evergreen Turf Handicap (1600m)

Another field of ten has been declared for the second race of the day, the Evergreen Turf Handicap. 

Mawkeb has proved popular in the pre-race betting but will be looking for a first win in six races. If you want to back her, a leap of faith will be required.

Cabaca is another who will be popular in the betting, but like Mawkeb, she will be looking for her first victory in six starts. 

Race 3: Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1000m)

The handicap action continues to come thick and fast and Ranveer will start the contest as the narrow favourite. This will be his first start in over a year but he has competed well in Group level races in the past. If arriving fit and ready, he could easily land a race of this nature.

Hoping to exploit any fitness issues that the favourite may have is Title Fighter. A winner on debut, he has raced in some competitive contests and has performed with credit. Back in this grade, he could well make his mark.

Race 4: Mornington Peninsula News Group Handicap (2000m)

Arran Bay is expected to lead the field in our fourth race of the day. Having won two of his last three starts, he arrives at the track thriving, and his connections will be confident of adding to their recent winning run.

Galeron has raced in some of the most valuable races in Australia and is taking a huge drop in class here. Having mopped up races of this nature earlier in his career, this is a race he is more than capable of winning. 

Race 5: Polvin Fencing Handicap (1200m)

Another competitive handicap greets the halfway mark of Saturday’s Mornington card. Fifteen horses have been declared, and this looks like one of the most competitive races on the entire card.

End Assembly is due to start as the slim favourite but will be looking for his first win in his last three starts. 

At a bigger price, it could be worth chancing Talbrager. Despite being six, he has had just eight career starts and has won five of those races. Although this represents a step up in class, no horse arrives at the race in better form.

Race 6: Quayclean Mornington Guineas (1600m)

Our sixth race of the day sees us take a break from Handicap races. Worth a total of $150,000, Riproar will head off as the short-priced favourite. A winner when last seen, the projected soft ground should be right up his street, and he should give his running once again.

If you want a little more bang for your buck, Grid Girl and Stylish are two solid alternatives.

Race 7: No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (2000m)

Sea What I See is likely to start the seventh race as one of the bankers of the day. Coming into the race fresh off four consecutive races, she could have far too much class for the majority of the field.

If Sea What I See fails to fire, the next best pick is Moya Lass. A winner of just two of her eleven career starts, she was a good winner when last seen on track, and her connections will be hopeful of her taking another leap forward here.

Race 8: Sportsbet Mornington Cup (2400m)

The feature race of the day is the Sportsbet Mornington Cup. Looking to get their hands on this valuable prize will be the connections of First Immortal.

Boasting a career strike rate of just over 50%, he has won two of his last five starts and has placed in multiple Group races. A classy horse, look for him to make his move towards the end of the race and hit the front late.

Strawberry Rock usually gives his backers a great run for their money. Now seven, he hasn’t finished out of the places in any of his last four starts, which includes one victory. Although not a prolific winner, he could be a solid option at a price.

Nereus is another to monitor in the betting. With four wins in his last five starts, he could certainly play a major part in the race.

Race 9: Sportsbet Hareeba Stakes (1200m)

The Sportsbet Hareeba Stakes is the penultimate race on Saturday’s Mornington card, and fifteen horses will line up to try to win this valuable race. Maharba is a consistent type and could well jump off as the race favourite.

With two wins in his nine career starts, he knows where the finishing line is and could be a tough nut to crack. 

Grand Impact is a hugely exciting horse. Having just had five career runs, he has posted three victories. Outclassed when last seen in Group 1 company, his connections will be hoping that he can bounce back with a vengeance here.

Race 10: Cleanaway Handicap (1600m)

Saturday’s action concludes with a handicap where thirteen horses will try to close out the card with a victory.

Dashing is one of the most experienced horses in the field and has four career victories to his name. Well drawn to run a big race, he looks a major contender.

The same can be said of Frigid, who will be looking for her third in her last six races.