It’s not quite the winning streak of stablemate Black Caviar but Power O’Raylee has been stringing a few wins together too and is out to make it six straight in Wednesday’s $300,000 Mornington Cup.
The four-year-old daughter of O’Reilly was a maiden after eight starts but had shown promise with four seconds, including twice over 1800m at Sandown on heavy tracks, and a third placing.
Power O’Raylee finally broke through in a 1508m fillies and mares maiden at Mornington on November 29 when second-up from a spell.
She then landed her first metropolitan win over 1800m at Caulfield on December 14 before another 1800m win at Sandown on December 24, the Jezabeel Hcp (2000m) at Flemington on January 14 and then the $100,000 Carlyon Classic (2040m) at Moonee Valley on January 27.
Last start was her most impressive as she was forced to do it at both ends before beating Mornington Cup rival Our Serena by four lengths.
She was caught wide in the early stages and Luke Nolen, who rides her from barrier one on Wednesday, let her stride up and sit outside the leader after passing the 1600m.
When Nolen went for home she quickly put the issue beyond doubt, racing away in the straight.
“It looks like she’ll run a mile-and-a-half (2400m) on her ear,” Nolen said.
The Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) has been a target for Power O’Raylee for some time as, apart from it being Victoria’s richest provincial event, the winner is exempt from the ballot for the 2012 Caulfield Cup.
She has 13 rivals with only the Mike Moroney stable newcomer Drunken Sailor (60kg) and Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (54.5kg) weighted above the 54kg minimum.
Power O’Raylee is expected to make it six straight being the $2.25 favourite in the TAB Sportsbet fixed odds market ahead of Sea Galleon at $5.50, with Western Jewel, Bagot Handicap winner Unchain My Heart and Werribee Cup victor Apprehend all at $10.
Sea Galleon has the blinkers back on after they were taken off for his sixth to Bolton in the Victoria Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on February 4 after an eight-week break.
Since being gelded, the Galileo five-year-old has won four of seven starts and completed a hat-trick of city wins when he ventured to Sydney and took out the Christmas Cup (2400m) two starts back on December 10.
Drunken Sailor, formerly prepared by Luca Cumani, will be having his second run for Moroney following his encouraging first-up third to Rainbow Styling over 1800m at Caulfield on January 26.
That was the Tendulkar seven-year-old’s first outing since he ran 12th to Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup last spring.
The in-form Royal Mail is at $13 with Drunken Sailor at $15.
Drunken Sailor will be ridden by Damien Oliver who rode his stablemate Viking Hero into second place in Sunday’s Group Three Hobart Cup (2200m).
AAP TURF
