Mornington races on Tuesday with eight races, starting at 1:30pm AEDT. The track was a Good 4 on race morning and fine, warm weather could see it upgrade. The rail is out 4 metres. Mornington is a tight track with an uphill straight, and on-speed horses usually do best here, so we have favoured horses that can race on the speed.
Pinamilloy in Race 3 is our best bet. Hot Samba (Race 2) is the shortest-priced runner on the card, and Miss Toronado (Race 6) and Fearless Writer (Race 7) both look hard to beat. Flying Jude in the last is the value play of the day.
Race 1 - Sportsbet Race Previews Maiden Plate (2430m)
Selection: Sentaloa Current odds: $2.50
Sentaloa ran second, beaten half a length, at Yarra Valley last start and draws to get a soft run on the speed. That is a big advantage over a long trip like this. Kissattack is the clear danger. It placed at long odds on a soft track at Yarra Valley last start, finished well, and puts a tongue tie on for the first time. Molesworth also hit the line well at Yarra Valley and should be fitter for its earlier runs.
Selections:
- Sentaloa - $2.50
- Kissattack - $2.40
- Molesworth - $7.50
- Grinding Away - $12.00
Race 2 - Barmah Park Restaurant & Cellar Door Maiden Plate (1000m)
Selection: Hot Samba Current odds: $1.80
Hot Samba is a Grahame Begg-trained filly by Too Darn Hot. She has improved with each trial and draws barrier 1, so she can go forward and be hard to run down. A couple of the main dangers have been scratched, which helps her. The price is short, so we would keep the stake small. Diamond Heist was held up at a key stage on debut at Ballarat and is the one to beat her. Burning Rubies, a debutant from the Andrew Noblet stable, is the outside threat.
Selections:
- Hot Samba - $1.80
- Diamond Heist - $3.20
- Burning Rubies - $4.40
- Spellbinding - $14.00
Race 3 - Betavet Maiden Plate (1000m)
Selection: Pinamilloy Current odds: $2.80
Pinamilloy is our best bet at Mornington. It resumes after an 18-week spell but has placed in all three of its starts, including a strong second at Cranbourne after racing wide the whole way. Its jump-outs have been good, it has the tactical speed to sit handy, and it puts a tongue tie on for the first time. A Stern Angel is the main danger on debut, but it may settle back and need luck. Russian Into It is a longer-priced runner worth a small saver. It missed the start badly at Warrnambool but still ran on, and gets an aggressive jockey here.
Selections:
- Pinamilloy - $2.80
- A Stern Angel - $5.50
- Russian Into It - $14.00
- Capital Storm - $3.40
Race 4 - RMBL Investments Rising Stars Race (BM56, 1200m)
Selection: Bliss Bomb Current odds: $3.50
Bliss Bomb was only just beaten as favourite at Kyneton last start and has placed three times from six runs this preparation. A low draw should let her settle close to the lead. Sistine Tunnel, from the Andrew Noblet stable, is the main danger. Marilyn’s Edge won at Moe three runs ago and is better than her last run at Horsham. Cudmore Street is our each-way roughie. He is fresh after a long break, but his recent trial at Moe was very good and he has run well first up before.
Selections:
- Bliss Bomb - $3.50
- Sistine Tunnel - $4.40
- Marilyn’s Edge - $3.50
- Cudmore Street - $14.00
Race 5 - Sportsbet Feed Handicap (BM56, 2025m)
Selection: Up And Under Current odds: $5.00
This is a close race between the top three. Up And Under draws barrier 1, should race on the speed, and gets weight relief from the apprentice’s claim. It ran second at Yarra Valley last start and has won at Mornington before. Nightowl won its maiden on a soft track at Yarra Valley last start and is the favourite, so it is the clear danger. Crown Of Russia drops back in grade after a quiet run here. Love Sparkles is the each-way value after a strong fourth at Kilmore.
Selections:
- Up And Under - $5.00
- Nightowl - $4.00
- Crown Of Russia - $7.00
- Love Sparkles - $10.00
Race 6 - Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (BM56, 1000m)
Selection: Miss Toronado Current odds: $2.60
Miss Toronado led all the way to win first up at St Arnaud by more than two lengths. She draws well enough to lead again, and that should suit this track. Ilovediamonds is the main danger. It has won its last three, including at Mornington last start, but comes from barrier 13 and will need some luck. Bella Cinque ran second here last start and puts winkers back on, so it is a good place chance.
Selections:
- Miss Toronado - $2.60
- Ilovediamonds - $3.10
- Bella Cinque - $7.00
- Just Remember It - $10.00
Race 7 - Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap (BM56, 1500m)
Selection: Fearless Writer Current odds: $2.60
Fearless Writer was beaten by only half a length here last start and has placed three times this preparation, including at metropolitan level. It looks well placed in this grade. Rough Enuff broke its maiden at Sale last start and draws barrier 1, so it should get the run of the race. Two To Tango ran on well for fourth at Swan Hill and should be fitter. These three are close in the market, so we would not bet heavily on Fearless Writer.
Selections:
- Fearless Writer - $2.60
- Rough Enuff - $3.10
- Two To Tango - $3.20
- Diamanda - $11.00
Race 8 - Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (BM56, 1500m)
Selection: Jenni Poppins Current odds: $3.40
Jenni Poppins drops in grade second up for the Lloyd Kennewell stable. She has placed in all her races as a favourite and Jamie Melham stays on. She is the most reliable runner here. Flying Jude is the value bet of the day. She is first up for a new stable, but has won her last two first-up runs and jumped out well, and she draws to sit just behind the leaders. Our Pierro puts winkers on for the first time and drops in grade, so it is a danger.
Selections:
- Jenni Poppins - $3.40
- Flying Jude - $6.50
- Our Pierro - $4.80
- Alexander Thegreat - $5.50
