Australian Racing: Gaudray to guide Gift home at Mornington

There are just two meetings scheduled to take place on Monday, with Quirindi and Mornington set to stage racing action after Murwillumbah was called off.

Race 8 Mornington

Gift Of Oratory @ 3.80

Race 5 Mornington

Southern Money @ 4.00

Race 5 Quirindi

Cossack Warrior @ 4.00

Gift to salute under Gaudray

The finale at Mornington is a 2445m Benchmark 64 handicap set to take place on a good 4 surface.

The lightly raced Lunar Powered is expected to have his supporters, having shown improvement with racing since debuting with an eighth over 1600m at Moe in December.

The gelding was spelled following an improved effort when runner-up at Yarra Valley later that month and he broke through for his first win returning to Moe first up this prep.

The son of Puissance de Lune stepped up to 2400m when winning by half-a-length on that occasion and he remains open to improvement for the Michael Kent team.

He is set to meet the consistent GIFT OF ORATORY here, with the five-year-old having finished in the first two in all five starts since resuming with a third at Benalla in January.

The pick is a dual winner this prep, including when saluting by half-a-length in a 1950m Benchmark 0-58 handicap at Yarra Valley in February.

The 3.80 son of Churchill has been stepped up in distance in recent starts, including when placing second, beaten two lengths in a similar race to this on his penultimate start.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the selection arrives here on the back of an impressive three-and-a-half-length victory over 2200m at Bendigo just under three weeks ago.

Celine Gaudray, on board for the first time that day, is again set to ride here and her mount looks up to completing a double.

Bank on Southern Money for success

Earlier on the Mornington card, the fifth race of the day is a 1200m Benchmark 0-62 handicap event.

Shane Nichols saddles War Party here, with the gelding expected to feature towards the head of the betting having ended his last prep in metro company.

While the three-year-old failed to shine when last of eight over 1400m at Flemington in that metro contest ,that was a much stronger event than he is set to tackle here.

The Hellbent gelding had previously finished a good fourth when beaten just over two-and-a-half-lengths over the same distance at Cranbourne and he is set to make his first start at this venue.

While Zac Spain’s mount holds obvious claims, preference is for the filly SOUTHERN MONEY, who broke through for her first win when saluting over this track and trip early last month.

The daughter of Capitalist was returning from a spell when successful by just under a length on a sound surface on that occasion.

The 4.00 youngster has placed over further in maiden company in the past and she contested a 1400m Benchmark 70 handicap at Sandown when making her first appearance against previous winners.

Ultimately the pick beat just one rival home in finishing just over three-and-a-half-lengths back in sixth in a seven-runner contest just over two weeks later.

Luke Currie takes the ride for the first time and, dropping in grade and distance, his mount is taken to register a win.

Cossack to battle for Quirindi win

A soft 5 surface is expected at Quirindi, with the fifth race on the card a 1200m Benchmark 66 handicap.

Anna Roper is set to partner COSSACK WARRIOR here, with her mount a winner already from three starts this prep.

The four-year-old resumed with a victory in a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap held at Tamworth in February.

The 4.00 son of Russian Revolution went on to place third, beaten just over a length in a small field Benchmark 66 handicap at the same venue the following month.

Both of those efforts came on good going, with the chestnut trailing in last in a Muswellbrook Class 3 handicap when stepped up to 1450m subsequently.

The selection was never involved on that occasion, but he has been freshened since that effort and drops back in distance here.

While any drying of the ground would be appreciated, Cody Morgan’s representative has placed on a wet track in the past and is taken to record the third win of his career.