Trainer David Brideoake is banking on a home-track advantage with last-start winner Our Harmony at Mornington.
The daughter of Nadeem landed a betting plunge at the track on May 20, and despite a hefty weight increase Brideoake is again brimming with confidence about her chances.
Our Harmony scored in benchmark 78 grade last time and drops to a 70 grade race when she contests Monday’s Tony Noonan Racing Hcp (1000m).
“I believe the home track is a significant advantage,” Brideoake said.
“She won very well on that track last time and she had a smart gallop on Friday with a good open horse called Self Sense.
“She’s in nice shape and she’s going into the race in premium condition and with a bit of improvement from her last start.”
Brideoake has decided to run her on Monday instead of waiting for a similar race at Flemington over 1200m on Wednesday.
Our Harmony will be ridden by Regan Bayliss and with his 2kg claim will come into Monday’s contest with 58.5kg, a rise of 6kg on her last start success.
Brideoake said the weight rise was the only concern.
“If she was back at the 52-1/2 she would be an absolute good thing,” he said.
“The weight is a bit of a concern but she’s probably improved a bit too.”
Our Harmony appreciated the soft ground when successful last start and Brideoake said the Mornington track would be similar after the course proper was closed for gallops on Friday morning following soaking rain the previous day.
Brideoake will also saddle Our Lucky Gal in the Brown’s Sawdust & Shavings Handicap (1000m) with the filly chasing her third win from her past four starts.
She was successful at Seymour and Moe before a last-start eighth at Cranbourne, but Brideoake said the run was better than it looked as the race was leader dominated.
The two fillies are home-breds with both their dams trained by Brideoake during their racing days.
