Mornington hosts Thursday racing as The Wizard of Odds casts his eyes over the eight-race card.
A three-year-old gelding finds a winnable race in the first and there plenty of more value on the program.
Mornington Race 1
#8 Hyderabad
Hyderabad is ready to win his first race start after building towards this 1500-metre maiden.
His first two starts have seen him get too far back to put his sustained sprint into winning effect, but he gets his chance today.
The rise to 1500 metres against slower horses than he has faced will see him settle midfield from a nice barrier.
Damian Lane has hopped aboard after riding him on debut and should be able to get the best out of his this gelding.
Suggested Bet: Hyderabad win at $3.5
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 9, 10, 11
mornington Race 3
#10 Skipping Girl
Very wary of what the first starter Skipping Girl has to show on debut over 1200 metres.
Her most recent trial saw her jump out on a heavy track over 800 metres at Cranbourne and she did a good job to keep with the winner as well trial runner-up Inkslinger who is a handy horse.
She draws the inside barrier with a few faster beginners drawn outside of her that will likely cross and give her cover.
Bit hard to get a gauge on how Jackie Horner is travelling as a jockey given she spent a fair bit of time away from the saddle, but this looks a pretty simple job from barrier one; hunt up, sit one pair back and peel out at the top of straight.
Happy to play this filly each-way at the double-figure odds.
Suggested Bet: Skipping Girl each-way at $12 the win and $3.5 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella – 8 & 10
Mornington Race 6
#3 Zoumon
The map and rise in distance is going to suit Zoumon perfectly for this step up to Class One grade.
The three-year-old filly from the airborne Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable was a very smart debut winner when sitting outside the lead and kicking on strongly to hold on for a quarter-of-a-length success.
She looks to get complete control of the lead in this race on a track that favours horses can find the front with ease.
Should improve again from a fitness point of view and expect her to run a good each-way race.
At worst, it is tough to see her missing a place.
Suggested Bet: Zoumon each-way at $5.5 the win and $2 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 2, 3, 6
Mornington race 8
#11 Dream Queen
The Ben and J D Hayes stable look to have picked up a beauty with Dream Queen coming over from New Zealand in attempt to pinch this race with the Flemington carnival in mind.
The three-year-old filly produced two very smart wins as a two-year-old and showed a heap of ability in her jump out leading into this event.
She is a push-button type of sprinter and Craig Williams will ensure he sharp turn of foot is utilised to full effect here.
Barrier nine provides him with the opportunity to slide up, take a sit and then press the accelerator at the top of the straight.
Very hard to beat based on what we had seen and making her the best of the day.
Suggested Bet: Dream Queen win at $2.25
