A couple of horses who are sweating on scratchings could could hold the key to Wednesday’s Mornington Cup (2400m).
The French import Award Season and the locally-trained Angola are emergency acceptors for the $350,000 race, but both possess strong winning prospects.
And for jockey Kerrin McEvoy the elevation of Award Season into the field would be a just reward for his loyalty to the horse’s trainer Kris Less.
McEvoy has ridden the well-fancied local Durnford at its past two starts, winning on him at Caulfield last Saturday week.
But McEvoy had previously committed himself to Award Season and stayed with that horse despite the doubt about him making the field.
“I’ve ridden Award Season in Sydney at his last two and he’s been very impressive,” McEvoy said.
Trainer Pat Carey offered McEvoy the ride on Durnford after he guided the horse to its first city win.
In that race he narrowly beat the nominal Mornington Cup favourite Tuscan Fire who is 2.5kg better off at the weights on Wednesday.
Early markets on the race have Durnford on the third line at $6.50 behind Tuscan Fire at $3.80 and Award Season at $4.60.
Angola, also trained by Carey, is the third emergency and comes into the race with strong claims following his good second at Rosehill last start.
Before that he’d shown good staying promise winning a Ballarat maiden by 6-1/2 lengths.
Carey said a question mark existed over Angola at 2400 metres, but he was prepared to overlook it.
“When you’ve got a horse hitting the line at the end of 2000 metres, like he did last start, it always gives you confidence going forward,” Carey said.
A Mornington Cup victory guarantees the winner exemption from the ballot in next season’s Caulfield Cup, a move Carey has praised.
“It’s been more and more difficult for local stayers to qualify for the Caulfield Cup,” Carey said.
“By doing this the Melbourne Racing Club has given trainers certainty and let them plan their spring carnivals without having the extra worry of the ballot.”
