Gavin Bedggood outlines plan as Mornington Glory resumes in Sir John Monash Stakes

Mornington Glory, who began his last campaign as a 63-rater but finished it with a Group 1 placing, has his eyes on more black type in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Mornington Glory wins the Lawn Rules Handicap at Moonee Valley. Picture: Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Mornington Glory, who began his last campaign as a 63-rater but finished it with a Group 1 placing, has his eyes on more black type in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The gelding – now rated 96 – scored three wins for trainer Gavin Bedggood last preparation. However, it was his one-length fifth behind Royal Ascot G1 winner Asfoora in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes and his third to Queman in the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) that proved he could mix it in top company.

Following a 16-week spell, Bedggood was encouraged by Mornington Glory’s impressive jumpout win over A Little Deep, Recommendation and Holymanz at Cranbrourne on July 1.

“I’ve been really happy with his work – he’s trialled up well. He’s going to the races on Saturday with good improvement still to come,” Bedggood said.

“I’m not sure what else (races) is around this time of year, you’d act on all sort of conditions. He handles firm ground, he handles soft ground – he’ll run a forward race.”

A $360,000 yearling purchase in 2020, the gelding was retired in 2022 following six starts. But after spending 46 weeks on the sidelines he was given another chance on the racetrack, returning with a second placing in a Class 1 at Ballarat in September 2023. Since then, he’s finished no further back in a race than fifth.

Mornington Glory puts the jets on 🚀 @GavinBedggood@beau_mertenspic.twitter.com/TAaS1FeF12

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 27, 2024

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Now a five-year-old and thriving under Bedggood, the new challenge is finding suitable races for the son of Shalaa, whose rating has ascended significantly.

“He came to me with pretty big wraps, but obviously he’d been in the wilderness a long time. Last preparation I had the luxury of starting off with a horse rated at 63,” Bedggood said.

“We were able to place him well and run him through his grades, that’s just where he ended up by the way he had raced.

“This preparation we don’t get that luxury, I think he’s about 30 (rating) points ahead of where he was, he earnt his rating with that placing in a Group 1.”

Resuming in the middle of winter on Saturday will help ensure Mornington Glory doesn’t arrive on a collision course with some of the nation’s top speedsters.

QUEMAN FIGHTS IT OUT IN THE OAKLEIGH PLATE! 😱

SHANE AND CASSIE OXLADE CLAIM THEIR FIRST GROUP 1!@HTCoffeypic.twitter.com/oxaC7RCHFw

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 24, 2024

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“It’s a good time of year to be kicking him off because the cream of the crop in the sprinting ranks are not going to be around, there might be a few of those winter horses that have got the fitness edge on him, but you just hope that his class would get him over the line or have him competitive anyway,” Bedggood said.

“There’s not a lot for four weeks preceding Saturday; if he was to be beaten, we can go back to a Benchmark 100 at Moonee Valley in four weeks time, then it will be races like the Carlyon, the Heath, the Schillaci – your second-tier sprint races.

“Listening to the radio during the week, everyone is kicking off in the Moir and the Manikato. I just think if we plot our way around those two races, we should be able to have a fruitful preparation.”

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While one stable star returns, another one is set for the paddock, with dual Group 2 winner Just Folk, who won the Group 3 Lord Mayer’s Cup on June 1, out of action until next year.

“He had colic surgery so he’s going to be on the sidelines for the rest of this season,” he said. “Hopefully horses like Mornington Glory and Keats can put their hand up over the next couple of months and keep us relevant in town.”

Originally published as Gavin Bedggood outlines plan as Mornington Glory resumes in Sir John Monash Stakes