3 minute read
Strong stayer Sea Galleon can bounce back to winning form in today's Listed Centrebet Mornington Cup (race 8) at Mornington.
Prepared at Cranbourne by Colin and Cindy Alderson, Sea Galleon has been in top form this campaign but had little luck last time and can bounce back over the 2400m in this Listed race.
Sea Galleon kicked off his campaign with a win over 1400m at Ballarat before stepping up in journey at his next two runs, finishing a close up fifth at Cranbourne over a mile then seventh over 2000m at Flemington.
Returning to 2400m on heavy ground at Sandown Hillside, he sat just off the pace throughout before looming up in the straight and clearing out with a four length win.
Alderson then headed to Sydney for the Listed Christmas Cup at Rosehill.
There he sat midfield throughout before circling the field and striking the front soon after straightening, kicking strong to score a length win.
He was given a let up following that run and returned to Melbourne where he contested the Listed Victoria Cup over 2000m at Caulfield.
There he drifted back in the small field but found trouble on the turn in traffic, held up before battling home to finish sixth behind Bolton.
While the effort was seemingly disappointing he does have a few positives heading into today's race.
He will strip much fitter for the run, his first in two months, and is much better suited over the journey.
He drops nicely in the weights from 58kg to 54kg, the minimum, and has drawn ideally in barrier three.
The gelding is strong at the journey and looks hard to hold out.
The favourite, the very much in form mare Power O'Raylee, rates as the horse to beat but at her short price is probably under the odds.
The mare, from the Peter Moody yard. Was sixth fresh up before returning to winning form over 1508m here to score a two length maiden win.
She's come a long way since then winning her next four runs as well.
Third up she won over 1800m at Caulfield in an RB72 then took an RB78 over the same journey Sandown Hillside.
U0p to 2000m at Flemington she drew wide but raced forward and was way too good for the fillies and mares in RB89 class, before winning against fillies and mares in open class last start over 2040m at Moonee Valley.
The mare was won by big margins at all those runs and drops nicely in the weights for this and has drawn well in barrier one.
But she takes on a much tougher grade here, she gets to 2400m for the first time and it's certainly a huge task to go from a maiden win to an open age win in stakes grade in the one campaign.
She looks most promising and could well measure up to even better races, but the price is a turn off today.
Tough stayer Apprehend returned to winning form last time and should give a big sight at each way odds.
Prepared by Tony Vasil, Apprehend was sound from a wide gate three back in the Bagot Handicap then a solid fifth over 2500m at Flemington next time out.
Last start, in the Werribee Cup, he led throughout and kicked clear for a three length win.
He drops in weight for today's race and although drawn wide has a good record here.
The trip suits and he'll take catching.
West Australian Western Jewel rates highly on her good Perth form over the summer and will be fitter for her first run since a let up.
Prior to that she won the Group 2 Perth Cup over 2400m after getting back from a wide gate and finishing strongly.
She has drawn wide again today but with a good pace on up front should be motoring home late.