Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 
Image: Bruno Cannatelli

Mornington Cup day is special for local trainer Tony Noonan who is hoping to rekindle some good memories when Manolo Blahniq runs in the feature sprint.

Noonan won three successive Cups with Gunnamatta but is yet to win the day’s feature short-course race, the Listed Hareeba Stakes.

Manolo Blahniq lines up in the 1200m race on Saturday with Noonan taking a different path this year with the sprinter.

Last year Manolo Blahniq finished seventh in the Hareeba Stakes after racing during the summer when he won the Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in January.

This time around, Noonan kicked Manolo Blahniq’s campaign off in the Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 29 with the gelding finishing a closing sixth.

“We’ve decided on a different approach this year,” Noonan said.

“We gave him a good break at the end of the spring so we could bring him back for the later part of the autumn and then look at the Brisbane carnival.

“I thought his first-up run was as good as he has performed in the past.

“We were very pleased with the run and we’re very pleased with what he has done at home since.

“But we’re going to need a lot of luck from barrier 15, but it is a horse race and you never know.”

Gunnamatta won the Mornington Cup, Saturday’s feature race over 2400m, in 2002, 2003 and 2004 when it was over 2000m.

Noonan said a lot had changed since those days when he had a large team at Mornington compared to the boutique stable of 15 horses he now operates.

“I was lucky to train that resilient little horse that just shone on that day,” Noonan said.

“Every year he turned up and got some brilliant rides from some brilliant jockeys.

“He was owned by good people and it was a really enjoyable part of our career.

“You pray for something like that now because at the time you are too busy to appreciate it, but as you get older you can sit back and say ‘how did that happen’.”

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au