Mornington Cup 2026 – Tips, Field, Betting, Odds and Horse Previews

The feature race at Mornington this Saturday is the Mornington Cup (2400m), where the market suggests it’ll be a rather open contest.

Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for 2026 Mornington Cup.

2026 Mornington Cup Runner Preview:

1. Bankers Choice: Think he’s racing really well but it’s clear that 60kg against these, giving them weight, is just too much of an ask.

2. Brayden Star: If he brought his best, he’d be a top seed, but for mine, he looks cast.

3. Zarir: I haven’t included him in the Quaddie initially, but that may change. On face value, he is going like a hurdler, but for the first time this prep, and I reckon for the first time since arriving from France, he is placed to advantage. If he doesn’t fire here, he’s a jumper.

4. American Wolf: American Wolf on top but not really a race I want to get involved in. He hasn’t raced since his Adelaide Cup triumph, finishing best in a driving go to score. He’ll be strong at the end and Jett Stanley is FLYING in the saddle at the moment.

5. Immediacy: Had his chance in the Easter Cup and for mine is a query at 2400m but he has quality. Not dismissing entirely.

6. Plymouth: SCR

7. Ambassadorial: Can’t knock the way he’s racing. Strong in the Easter Cup and seems a horse who will just keep running. He has to be respected.

8. Basilinna: Similiar to Zarir, I should be including her in the Quaddie. Two runs back have essentially been prep runs and is placed to advantage here. Will do no work, a win wouldn’t shock.

9. Jennilala: Very much flattered in the Country Oaks and is up against it here.

10. Wymark: Loved the way he toughed it out to win the Stawell Cup. Flying, but this looks a bridge too far.

11. Pounding: Really caught the eye in the Easter Cup…but surely 2400m is a query, and he hasn’t won in a long time.

12. Sea What I See: Thought she had every chance in the Easter Cup when on speed and nailed late. Talented, will give a sight, but not sure she runs 2400m.

13. Suntora: Thought she had her chance in a weak Country Oaks and this looks too hard.

14. Saganti: He looks very limited and happy to be against.

15. Kings Valley (First Emergency): Didn’t mind his finale in the Easter Cup but I have others ahead of him.

16. Stylish Secret (Second Emergency): SCR

17. Autumn Mystery (Third Emergency): SCR

18. Mr Waterville (Fourth Emergency): SCR

2026 Mornington Cup $100 Betting Strategy:

$100 Boxed First Four = 5.95% (1-3-4-5-7-8-16-17)

Mornington Cup Field

No	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	BANKERS CHOICE (NZ)	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	Jamie Mott	13	60kg
2	BRAYDEN STAR (GB)	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Ms Linda Meech	9	58kg
3	ZARIR (IRE)	Chris Waller	Jye McNeil	5	58kg
4	AMERICAN WOLF (NZ)	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Jett Stanley	14	57.5kg
5	IMMEDIACY (NZ)	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Thomas Stockdale	10	57.5kg
6	PLYMOUTH	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	Ben Allen	17	57.5kg
7	AMBASSADORIAL	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Harry Coffey	8	56.5kg
8	BASILINNA (NZ)	Emma-Lee & David Browne	Billy Egan	2	56kg
9	JENNILALA	Gavin Bedggood	Fred Kersley	1	55kg
10	WYMARK (NZ)	Gavin Bedggood	Jake Noonan	12	55kg
11	POUNDING	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	Luke Nolen	4	54.5kg
12	SEA WHAT I SEE (IRE)	Danny O’Brien	Beau Mertens	11	54.5kg
13	SUNTORA	Nick Ryan	Daniel Stackhouse	18	54.5kg
14	SAGANTI (FR)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Zac Spain	3	54kg
15e	KINGS VALLEY (IRE)	Ciaron Maher	Lachlan Neindorf	6	54kg
16e	STYLISH SECRET (NZ)	Mick Nolan	Luke Cartwright (a)	7	54kg
17e	AUTUMN MYSTERY	Rory Hunter	Craig Newitt	16	54kg
18e	MR WATERVILLE (IRE)	Clayton Douglas		15	54kg

Mornington Cup Odds

2026 Mornington Cup Speed Map

No real designated leader here. Bankers Choice and Plymouth could press forward from wide draws. Sea What I See and Wymark can settle forward, likewise Jennilala from an inside draw, maybe even Basilinna as well.