3 minute read
With a ticket to the Caulfield Cup attached to a valuable prize pool the Mornington Cup has become much sought after with a large interstate contingent making the trip down to the peninsula for today’s renewal.
Photo by Racing and Sports
One such visitor is the Gai Waterhouse trained Travota who comes off solid form up in Sydney and with just 15 starts to his name still has good upside.
Travolta started his career in New Zealand where he was twice a winner over a mile and showed his best form when getting to 2100m.
A fourth placed effort in the Avondale Guineas behind Silent Achiever the highlight piece of form on the other side of the Tasman.
Since joining Tulloch Lodge he has won handicaps over 1300m and 1900m and in his latest couple has been placed at listed level in both the Gosford Cup and last time in the Australia Day Cup at Warwick Farm.
There he was safely held at bay by the winner Shadows In The Sun but meets him 2.5kgs better today which sees their respective efforts rating basically level coming into this.
The booking of a good punters jockey in Vlad Duric (+4.4% POT this season) is an added bonus.
$11 looks a fair gamble in a competitive field.
Stablemate Reuben Percival was good in the same race as that pair. He’s honest as they come but faces a tough task giving weight all around here.
Speaking of honest Tuscan Fire is low-flying this campaign, going to a clear new peak four runs back and running right up to that level in three runs that have followed, winning two of them.
He was a clear winner at the weights again last time with Durnford narrowly beating him on the line in receipt of 5kgs.
That gap between the pair drops down to 2.5kgs today which gives the advantage to Tuscan Fire.
Going to 2400m is also a plus for Tuscan Fire but Durnford is a horse on the rise that can be expected to take good improvement out of his latest run and pose a strong winning threat again today.
Import Award Season is a progressive type in winning form and runs for a yard in outstanding form of late.
That said, he takes a big jump in grade here and does look well found in early markets.