Trainer Gavin Bedggood has some soul searching to do in the next fortnight as to whether he heads back to Moonee Valley for a Group 1 contest with Mornington Glory.
An emotional Bedggood collected an important victory with Mornington Glory in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) on Saturday and the natural progression would be to progress to the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the same course and distance on September 7.
Bedggood admitted it would be hard to pass up the opportunity with Mornington Glory who is unbeaten over the 1000m journey at The Valley in three starts and with a horse that has been placed at Group 1 level in the past.
Sent out the $2.40 betting app favourite under Ethan Brown, Mornington Glory charged late to overhaul the leader Golden Bloom ($6) to score by a half-neck with Sans Doute ($6.50) a long-neck away third.
“There will be a bit of soul searching to do over the next week,” Bedggood said.
“All the things you hear over the past four, five, six weeks, everything is going to the Moir, but he is three for three here at the 1000 metres and it’s probably hard not to go there.
“A Group 1 would look good on his and my CV.”
Mornington Glory has helped Bedggood build his reputation as a trainer with tried horses.
Bedggood was left deflated after Mornington Glory’s return run at Caulfield last month, and was relieved with the gelding’s last start win on August 10.
But the nerves rose for Bedggood on Saturday and admitted to feeling ill in the lead up to the race.
“I feel a bit better now,” Bedggood said as he awaited Mornington Glory’s return.
“I was as happy with the horse as I was going into his last run, but I was pretty gutted when I saw the barrier draw.
“When you sat down and had a look at the race and there were five speed horses, I mapped it in my head that Bold Bastille would be three-wide without cover with us being on its back.
“But it didn’t work out that way and we were three-wide no cover and he’s done it the hard way, but he was too good for them.”
Bedggood said he left tactics in Brown’s hands, describing him as a class rider.
Brown didn’t panic after Mornington Glory jumped well and travelled sweetly in the run.
“It was always going to be tricky from the gate and I had to trust the horse,” Brown said.
“I said before the race that he was probably better being drawn out there.
“He’s a big striding horse and he’s got a couple of runs under belt now and full credit to Gavin and the team, they’ve done a terrific job.”
