Races

Deane Lester’s Mornington Best Bets

RACE 1 NO.1 MICRO

MICRO is the most experienced youngster in this year’s Mornington Sires (1500m) and looks the most likely winner. The son of Medaglia D’oro is still a maiden after five starts but showed that is close to his first win with a brave third behind LIGHTSABER in the VRC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 6. He was strong through the line on that occasion suggesting the extra distance of this race looks ideal. He should make his own luck in the small field, gets the services of top rider Jye McNeil and appeals as the best bet of the day.


RACE 3 NO.2 WITCHFULTHINKING

WITCHFULTHINKING kicks off another campaign when she runs in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m) and rates a solid each way chance. The four year old shows her best form early in a campaign and looked very sharp winning a recent trial at Burrumbeet. She has good tactical speed which is vital around the tight Mornington track and gets the benefit of leading apprentice Will Price’s 2kg allowance. It’s a competitive race but WITCHFULTHINGING is primed for a bold showing.


RACE 7 NO.7 MOUNT POPA

There’s a ticket into this year’s Caulfield Cup for the winner of the Mornington Cup (2400m) and MOUNT POPA looks poised to win and gain that ticket. The Team Hawkes trained import scored a brave win over 2000 metres at Randwick on March 6. He now steps to 2400 metres, a distance that he had 5 starts earlier in his career in Europe for 2 wins and 3 placings which shows that he is now getting a more preferable distance. He is drawn for a cheap run in a race that looks devoid of a natural leader and gets the services of the one and only William Pike. He looks the horse with the best profile to win this race and go onto bigger things, so MOUNT POPA looks one of the better bets of the day.

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