Mornington is the venue for Wednesday’s metro meeting in Victoria with eight races set to be run and won.
Weather-wise, a fine day is expected with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in the True position.
For our thoughts and best bets ahead of every race, continue scrolling below!
All eyes on the promising Belle Detelle on the first following an encouraging effort on debut at Seymour.
The three-year-old filly by Zed was away cleanly and settled off the speed, improving from midfield to shift out wide into the straight where she ran on strongly to finish a nose second to Seindeel.
That form has held up nicely with Seindeel going on to run a place at Flemington in her next start. With a jumpout between starts to keep her sharp, the rise to the mile should be more than suitable with just over a month between runs.
Sirena looks ready to take the next step now for Robbie Griffiths and connections.
The filly by Pierata let down with a nice turn of foot to run second on return here over 1000m a few weeks ago, closing the gap on the winner over her final few strides with a decent gap back to the rest.
There’s a chance she settles a little closer to the speed this time over 1200m, but from another perfect gate with Jye McNeil retaining the ride, it’s tough to see her being beat with a good chunk of this field on debut.
Written Bligh probably would have won second-up with even luck.
Grahame Begg’s mare was three-wide facing the breeze into the turn, before being pinched between a pair of runners over the final 100m on her way to finishing second.
There’s still scope for improvement in her third run back though, while it’s worth noting she’s found the money in all four of her runs over 1200m during her short career.
Cash Converter has been up for a while but continues to hold his form.
The gelding by Headwater did a bit wrong over this trip at Cranbourne last start, caught wide after struggling to settle in the run under Rhys McLeod.
He was under hard riding out of the turn, but did respond nicely to knuckle down and run second, beaten less than half a length.
Retourne was down to race at Mornington on Sunday but was instead scratched in favour of this similar assignment.
Danny O’Brien’s galloper was racing in terrific order to begin his prep, cashing a cheque when placing in back to back runs on the Heath track at Caulfield over shorter.
By Shamexpress, he had little go his way at The Valley last time out, finishing down the order from a wide gate where he never seemed to handle the tight course.
Not a bad price on offer for Araletta, who is looking to remain unbeaten this prep for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
The Pierro mare overcame a slow start to win only narrowly fresh at Pakenham, before improving several lengths to win comfortably here over the track and distance last start under apprentice Emily Pozman.
The pair combine again here from a slightly tricky gate, but likely to land just off the speed with the claim put to good use, there’s nothing to suggest they can’t put paid to their rivals in similar style.
Diamond Firetail is an intriguing runner on return for Godolphin.
The lightly-raced Epaulette filly has been given a good gap between runs since we last saw her racing at The Valley when beaten just under two lengths by the talented Blue Stratum.
Form around the likes of Tarpaulin also stands out on her resume, and she did run a handy race first-up to break maiden at Warwick Farm last year.
Ziryab has gone up a short price after making it look pretty easy on return at Caulfield Heath on Boxing Day.
Ciaron Maher’s Irish import was given a 10/10 ride under Jamie Mott, settling just off the speed before finding the centre of the straight and unleashing with a powerful burst to win by 1.75 lengths.
The rise to the mile second-up is perfect and there’s been a bit to like about the form from his last race with runner-up One Long Day going on to win well at Flemington.