A big weekend of racing in Melbourne gets underway at Mornington on Saturday, with the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic headlining an eight-race card.
Showers are possible in the lead-up, but fine weather is forecast for race day. The track is rated a Good 4, with the rail in the True position.
There are several smart runners engaged, including our Best Bet in Race 7—a talented mare resuming over 1200m in the Melbourne Handicap.
Planning to have a bet at Mornington on Saturday? Check out our race-by-race betting strategy and form guide below.
SAVITRI (2) comes back a level after resuming at Sandown three weeks ago.
The daughter to So You Think raced a little keen and was unlucky not to run a place, but she should find this much easier after also taking on Group 1 company in the Australasian Oaks at Morphettvile two back.
She’s likely still looking for much further than 1500m, but with a nice soft gate and some okay wet track form to her name, she’ll be difficult to hold out if she lands midfield in the early stages.
| 2. Savitri (5) J: John Allen 62kg 116×4 T: Mitchell Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 4th of 8 in a F&M Bm70 at Sandown-Hillside on September 9 over 1400m, slow going 1.3 len behind Geffina with 62kg at $2.35. Previously second-up 5th of 8 in a Bm66 at Sandown-Hillside on February 25 over 1300m, slow going 3.5 len behind Enamorada with 56.5kg at $6.50. | |||
LAWBOROUGH (7) is a solid 1200m horse with two wins to his name from three goes over the journey.
Simon Zahra’s gelding was pipped on the line fresh at Bendigo three weeks ago over 100m shorter, finding the front out of the turn before Alero got the better of him flashing down the outside.
He was sent around in a Group 2 last time in work in South Australia and was far from disgraced beaten only 3.5 lengths. Out to his preferred trip now with improvement still to come, he should run well with Jye McNeil sticking.
| 7. Lawborough (12) J: Jye Mcneil 59kg 178×2 T: Simon Zahra | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 9 in a Bm66 at Bendigo on September 6 over 1100m, on a slow track; head behind Alero carrying 61kg at $2.45. Previously second-up favourite; won by 0.8 len in a 0 – 66 at Cranbourne on March 13 over 1200m defeating Blue Hawaiian carrying 58kg at $7. | |||
There’s no knock on SPACE RIDER (2) after he simply found one better on return at Flemington last month.
The four-year-old Zoustar gelding was fast into stride and led for most of the way, up until Jett Smash got the better of him over his final few strides.
Fitter second-up and having also won a Group 3 only nine months ago, he rates a big improver in a race that should feature a good amount of early speed.
| 2. Space Rider (10) J: Ethan Brown 60kg 100×2 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months 2nd in a small field in a Bm84 at Flemington on September 12 over 1200m, 2.75 len behind Jett Smash carrying 60kg at $6. Previously second-up 12th of 14 in the LR Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill on March 21 over 1200m, on a slow track; 6 len behind Beskar with 58.5kg at $26. | |||
TRES MAGNIFIQUE (7) should settle up close to the speed and prove very hard to catch.
She went around in a similar race at Sandown first-up where she was the beaten favourite, her condition simply giving way when it mattered when beaten half a length by Behaviour.
The daughter to I Am Invincible has some nice second-up form to her resume, and providing she’s afforded running room down the straight from the inside alley, she should be very hard to beat with improvement still to come.
| 7. Tres Magnifique (1) J: Jamie Melham 54.5kg 116×2 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months held ground to the line 2nd of 8 in a Bm88 at Sandown-Hillside on September 5 over 1000m, slow going long-neck behind Behaviour carrying 53kg at $2.80. Previously second-up favourite; won by 1.75 len in a F&M Bm70 at Sandown-Lakeside on April 15 over 1000m in soft going defeating Amping Lass carrying 57.5kg at $1.60. | |||
POLITELY DUN (8) is worthy of another chance on the quick backup for Danny O’Brien.
He went around last Saturday at Caulfield where on paper he finished 4.6 lengths off Emperor Tzu, but there was plenty to like about his late charge to the line where he rattled off some impressive middle times in the process.
Two straight runs over 1800m stacks up well fitness-wise for this rise to 2000m and even though he’s drawn another horrible gate, he should be swooping in late again when it counts with Damien Thornton sticking.
| 8. Politely Dun (9) J: Damien Thornton 56kg 9×416 T: Danny O’brien | |||
| At the latest run 6th of 13 in a Bm74 at Caulfield on September 19 over 1800m, 4.5 len behind Emperor Tzu carrying 61kg at $14. The run before that ran on strongly from last on the turn and won by 1.0 len in a Bm78 at Caulfield on August 29 over 1800m on a soft track defeating Jenni Multabella with 56.5kg at $19. | |||
HURRY CURRY (8) figures to be a popular pick with a win to his name over the 2400m trip at Sandown to start the year.
He’s since gone on to place in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup over much further, before resuming with two fairly plain efforts at Flemington and Caulfield through August, where wide barriers cost him on both occasions.
The son to Ocean Park has drawn the rail back from a four-week break with Lachlan Neindforf steering for the first time. He’s also been given a trial between runs and looks a key chance with only 54kg on his back.
| 8. Hurry Curry (1) J: Lachlan Neindorf 54kg 13×08 T: Danny O’brien | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up eased back early on 10th of 14 in a Bm84 at Flemington on August 1 over 1620m, 6 len behind Touchdown carrying 55.5kg at $101. Second run from a spell 8th of 14 in a Bm78 at Caulfield on August 29 over 1800m, slow going 4.5 len behind Politely Dun carrying 60kg at $26. | |||
CONCORD CONNIE (3) has jumped out very well ahead of her return for Charlotte Littlefield.
We got a good look at this mare earlier in the autumn when she burst onto the scene with a solid two-length win over the 1200m trip at Pakenham, and it didn’t take her long to prove that wasn’t a fluke when she went on to take out a pair of 1400m races at Flemington.
There are a few capable types engaged in this field on Saturday, but with a few big opinions of her floating around in racing circles, this looks like an ideal leadoff point for her.
| 3. Concord Connie (8) J: Jett Stanley 59kg x111x T: Charlotte Littlefield | |||
| Has won previously first-up and resumes here after a break of four-and-a-half months. Finished off last preparation won by 1.3 len Flemington 3yo Hcp May 16 over 1400m defeating Flying Done carrying 55.5kg at $1.35. Previous preparation first-up favourite; won by 2 len Pakenham 3yo F Mdn-Sw April 9 over 1200m slow track defeating Chasing Rainbows carrying 57kg at $1.40. | |||
VEYEPEE (15) could prove a real handful should he earns his way into the field as the first emergency.
This lightly-raced Russian Camelot gelding made a mess of his rivals in just his fourth start at Sandown on return, settling right back near last in the run before improving out of the bend to go on and win by 1.75 lengths.
He’s still got improvement to come and a wide barrier to deal with on Saturday, but the light weight with Blake Shinn retaining the ride are two enormous ticks in the right boxes.
| 15. Veyepee (8) J: Blake Shinn 54.5kg 116×1 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | |||
| Second run back. First-up after six months won by 1.5 len in a Bm70 at Sandown-Hillside on September 2 over 1500m on a soft track defeating Cashout with 59kg at $5.50. Previously second-up won by 1.0 len in a 0 – 66 at Caulfield Heath on February 18 over 1500m defeating Crown Crusher with 58kg at $4.20. | |||