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Mornington Glory became the second G1 winner from Crowned Glory
Mornington Glory seemingly fulfilled his destiny when he became a Group 1 winner at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The winner of the Moir Stakes is by imported stallion Shalaa, a son of I Am Invincible's sire Invincible Spirit, out of Crowned Glory, who is most famous for being nabbed late by Belle Du Jour in her freakish Golden Slipper win.
Mornington Glory hinted early in his career he had the potential to emulate older half-brother Hallowed Crown and be an elite-level force, rocketing up Coolmore Stud Stakes betting charts after a jaw-dropping maiden win at Bendigo.
Things did not go to plan for the remainder of his spring three-year-old campaign and after persistent injuries he was virtually retired midway through his four-year-old season.
Had it not been for an existing relationship between some of Mornington Glory's owners and Gavin Bedggood, who prepared him to win Saturday's 1000-metre event, he might not have even made it back to the track.
"It nearly didn't happen," Bedggood said after the win.
"He was retired this horse and, as I said last time, these owners throwing me a bone (is appreciated)."
Mornington Glory is the 10th-named foal out of Crowned Glory, who only had seven starts with her Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) success the biggest of her two wins.
In the other she comfortably held subsequent Blue Diamond Stakes winner in a 1000m maiden at Mornington on debut.
By Danehill, Crowned Glory is also related to his great rival, Zabeel, being out of Bletchingly mare Significant Moment, who is also a product of Zabeel dam Lady Giselle.
Mornington Glory became Crowned Glory's second Group 1 winner behind Hallowed Crown, who won six of nine starts, including a Golden Rose and Randwick Guineas.
Crowned Glory is also the dam of Needs Further, a Group 3-winning son of Encosta De Lago who is best known as the sire of Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey.
The Moir Stakes win was Mornington Glory's third in a row, and seventh of a 20-start career.
The six-year-old gelding is the only product of Crowned Glory still racing and, given every one of her foals was a colt, it will be left to sons and daughters of Hallowed Crown and Needs Further to carry on the family legacy.
