Bendigo is known as the âNursery of Championsâ and Mornington Glory stamped his potential with a debut win on Wednesday.
The time may not have been spectacular, but the way Mornington Glory went about his work in the Bendigo Mazda Plate (1100m) indicated better wins are in store.
Trainer Matt Laurie is now contemplating heading to Flemington with the three-year-old for the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) on October 2 and then possibly the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) four weeks later.
Sent out the $1.55 favourite under Luke Currie, Mornington Glory raced to a 3-Ÿ length win from Foturi ($3.40) with Spirit Of Pepin ($8.50) a nose away third.
Laurie has always considered Mornington Glory a galloper with loads of potential and was relieved the son of Shalaa was able to deliver on Wednesday.
âThe best winners are the long-priced ones because you donât expect them,â Laurie said.
âWeâve had a big opinion of this horse and itâs nice to see him kick-off in good fashion.
âHeâs only going to be better when heâs got horses in front of him to follow and after a couple of taps with the stick he put it together late, so heâll improve a hell of a lot from today.
âIâll chat to the owners, but Iâd like to run him in the Danehill and then depending on how he goes in that, the Coolmore.â
Currie was equally impressed with Mornington Glory after overdoing it early in the race.
âHe went up a little bit rather than out when I first pressed him off the bridle, but it wasnât until I gave him a hit behind the saddle that he really lengthened and flattened out,â Currie said.
âHe had a good blow when he pulled up and heâs got a lot of improvement in him but is a lovely horse going forward.â