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It’s the biggest day of racing on the Peninsula every year and we are set for a quality ten-race program on 2024 Mornington Cup Day!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup goes on the line in the feature race and a fittingly strong field of stayers has accepted, but there is value to be found in every race and plenty of opportunities to back a winner.
Check out my complete 2024 Mornington Cup Day Preview below.
RACE 1 - 11:50AM: Asset Painting Services Mornington Sires (1200m)
Brighella was a very impressive winner on debut and the Mornington Sires' looks a great race for him.
Brighella was settled at the tail of the field in the Cranbourne maiden earlier this month and responded with an eye-catching turn of foot when asked for an extra effort to swallow up his rivals.
I'm only expecting improvement for that experience.
2 Units Brighella
RACE 2 - 12:20PM: Evergreen Turf Handicap (1600m)
Cabaca has mixed her form a little recently, but this does look to be one of the eaisier tasks that she has been set.
The Chris Waller-trained mare finished midfield in a couple of Stakes races in Tasmania before only just missing in BM72 company, while her return to the mainland heralded a credible seventh behind the likes of Legacies at Caulfield.
She's hard fit, the mile looks to suit, and she might not be offered a better opportunity to win in metro company.
1 Unit Cabaca
RACE 3 - 12:55PM: Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1000m)
I'm keen to be with Ranveer when he resumes at Mornington this week.
Ranveer hasn't been seen at the races for a year, but he raced well in black type company during his three-year-old season, and he is yet to finish worse than second in four previous fresh attempts.
This isn't the strongest race, and it looks an ideal campaign launchpad for him.
1 Unit Ranveer
RACE 4 - 1:30PM: Mornington Peninsula News Group Handicap (2000m)
Galeron is second-up and primed to strike on Mornington Cup Day.
The former European galloper was sent off a double-figure odds on debut in Australia last month and hit the line to only just miss behind Arran Bay.
With improvement and getting out to the 2000m this week, I think he's going to take a power of beating.
3 Units Galeron
RACE 5 - 2:05PM: Polvin Fencing Handicap (1200m)
Former Kiwi Puketiro makes her Australian debut in an open race at Mornington on Saturday.
Puketiro was excellent in eight starts across the ditch, winning five times and finding form around some decent opposition.
She won over 1200m at Ellerslie late last month and I'm expecting improvement for that effort.
2 Units Puketiro
RACE 6 - 2:40PM: Quayclean Mornington Guineas (1600m)
I'll be having a couple of bets in this year's Mornington Guineas; the first on early favourite, Riproar.
Riproar turned in some lovely performance in the spring and wasn't out of his depth in metro company, while he returned to action for an easy win out at Geelong earlier this month.
I'm also going to have an each way saver on Dolphin Skin.
Dolphin Skin didn't come up in the spring and was sent to the paddock after beating only one runner home in the Ethereal Stakes, but she returned to action with a career-best effort and win in BM70 company at Sandown.
She has finished down the order in a couple of strong Saturday races since, but she steps out this week in peak order, into what does look a drop in class.
3 Units Riproar
1 Unit E/W Dolphin Skin
RACE 7 - 3:20PM: No Fuss Event Hire Handicap (2000m)
Sea What I See has gone to a new level this time in and looms as the one to beat again in Race 7 on Mornington Cup Day.
Having returned to action with a dominant win over 1300m in maiden company at Bendigo, the Sea The Stars mare has continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised, and was an easy winner again over 2000m at Flemington last time out.
She is my best bet on the program.
5 Units Sea What I See
RACE 8 - 4PM: Listed Mornington Cup (2400m)
Future History has improved for two runs back from a break and I am keen to stick with him when he takes his place in the Mornington Cup field.
Future History arrived in Australia last year to target the Melbourne Cup, and after winning the Bart Cummings and filling the minors in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, he ended his prep midfield on the first Tuesday of November.
He clearly needed his first run back this time to tune up, but he was just over a length behind the winner in the Easter Cup a fortnight ago, and getting out to the mile of the half this week will suit.
At around the $10 mark (at publish), he represents a great each way chance.
2 Units E/W Future History
RACE 9 - 4:35PM: Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m)
2023 Hareeba Stakes winner Jigsaw is back to defend his crown, and I am confident that he can pull it off.
The multiple black type winner has been a stable star for Cindy Alderson for a couple of years now, though he hasn't won a race since hitting the line ahead of The Inferno here last year.
That being said, he strips fitter for credible performances in the VOBIS Gold Comet and the Country Discovery, and we know that he loves racing here.
He's gone up at Hareeba Stakes odds of $9, is drawn ideally and can fight out the finish again.
2 Units E/W Jigsaw
RACE 10 - 5:10PM: Cleanaway Handicap (1600m)
Dashing steps out third-up and primed for a big effort in the last on Mornington Cup Day.
The Magnus gelding returned to action to finish third behind Johnny Rocket over 1200m at The Valley, who followed up that performance an agonizingly close second behind Imperatriz at Group 1 level.
This horse progressed to another nice effort over 1400m at Flemington, finishing within a length of the winner, and the mile this week looks absolutely perfect.
3 Units Dashing
