Ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup goes on the line on 2023 Neds Mornington Cup Day!
Some outstanding stayers will step out in the Neds Mornington Cup including a Melbourne Cup winner, but that race is just one of nine talent-rich contests on the program, and it shapes as a terrific betting card.
You can find my complete 2023 Neds Mornington Cup Day Tips below!
Chilled returned to the races for a lovely win at Morphettville earlier this month, and the Mornington Sires’ looks a lovely feature race for her.
The Shalaa filly filled the minors in races at Warwick Farm and the Sunshine Coast during her short debut campaign back in December, but her fresh effort this time hinted at improvement.
She strips fitter this week and has plenty of upside.
Defiant Diva has been knocking on the door of a win recently, and she’s offered a great chance to strike at Mornington on Saturday.
The Team Corstens-trained mare finished fifth in Group 3 company back in February and has filled the minors each of her three subsequent starts; only just missing in a photo finish at Sandown last time out.
She’s rock-hard fit, Craig Williams keeps the ride, and I don’t think she’ll get a better opportunity to win in Saturday metro company.
There is a case to be made for a few of them in the third on Neds Mornington Cup Day, including Tax Free Prophet.
Tax Free Prophet hasn’t been seen at the races since February, but he was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning a couple of races here at Mornington and fighting out the finish of a couple of tougher, metro contests most recently.
He’s had the benefit of a trial in the lead-up to his return and boasts a strong fresh record.
Golden Crusader’s recent form has been nothing short of excellent, and he strikes another winnable race on Neds Mornington Cup Day.
The five-year-old son of Golden Horn hasn’t missed placing at his last five trips to the races, and returned to winning form over 2040m at The Valley before franking that performance with an easy BM70 win at Sandown last time out.
He’s another who steps out this week in peak order and gets some relief in the weights under Celine Gaudray.
There is a case to be made for a few of them in this Benchmark 78 sprint, and I thought that a horse like Outback Action could have an impact at a nice price ($11 at publish).
Outback Action has returned plenty of smart performances for the Moody stable throughout his career and has missed placing only a couple of times in seven career starts.
He steps out this week second up and is a previous winner at this point of his preparation, while the booking of Linda Meech and a good barrier also add confidence.
Waltz On By returned to winning form in style last time out, and she can make it two in a row in Saturday’s Mornington Guineas.
The well-bred filly has improved noticeably with each of her three starts back this time, and she was rewarded with a smart win at Listed level, last time out.
She steps out in peak order this week, this appears to be a weaker race and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish.
I absolutely love the Neds Hareeba Stakes and it has been won by some absolute stars during my time previewing racings, including Under The Louvre and Streets Of Avalon!
Jigsaw was found out in Group 1 company at his last appearance, but I think that this is the perfect race for him.
He famously knocked off Artorius prior to that horse winning the Neds Blue Diamond in 2021, and Jigsaw returned to the races in excellent order this time, winning his first four starts back, including the Group 2 Australia Stakes, before running down the order in the William Reid off a freshen up.
I’m expecting big improvement for that hit-out and he has a lot of these rivals covered for class.
It has become a particularly important race since ballot-free entry into the Caulfield Cup was offered to its winner, and we’re set for another strong edition of the Neds Mornington Cup on Saturday.
Hezashocka finished fourth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at his last appearance, and a repeat of that effort would be good enough to win the Neds Mornington Cup.
Hezashocker has proven to be an outstanding horse for the Mick Price & Mick Kent Jnr yard for the last couple of seasons, and he seems to improve each time he comes back.
He steps out this week at peak fitness and is ready for the mile and a half.
Maktoob has recorded two wins from as many starts since arriving in Australia, and he can make it three when he steps out in the last on Neds Mornington Cup Day.
The Awtaad gelding stamped himself as one to watch during his debut prep in the UK, but he looks to have gone to another level under the care of Simon Zahra, winning at Pakenham on debut last month and franking that performance at Sandown last time out.
Fitter third-up, I think he’ll be tough to beat again.