A huge weekend of racing in Melbourne kicks off at Mornington on Saturday, with the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic highlighting the eight-race card.
Some showers are possible leading up to race day, but fine weather is on the cards, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in the True position.
Some smart types are engaged throughout the day, with our Best Bet in Race 7: a talented mare resuming in the 1200m Melbourne Handicap.
If you’re looking to place a bet at Mornington on Saturday, see 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 (4) J: John Allen 62kg 116×4 T: Mitchell Freedman |
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 (8) J: Jye Mcneil 59kg 178×2 T: Simon Zahra |
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 |
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 |
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 (8) J: Damien Thornton 56kg 9×416 T: Danny O’brien |
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 |
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 (4) J: Jett Stanley 59kg x111x T: Charlotte Littlefield |
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 (6) J: Blake Shinn 54.5kg 116×1 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |