Mornington
Race 7 – Spylark
Jockey – Mitch Aitken
1200m – Barrier 7
Resuming mare Spylark is first-up for eight months over 1200-metres at Mornington this afternoon. The four-year-old daughter of Niagara broke through for a stylish maiden win at her last start, the stable immediately throwing her into benchmark-70 company upon resumption today. Jockey Mitch Aitken will be forced back from a wide gate and will need luck to find a position with cover and horses behind him. Beour Bay and Mrs Chrissie will be vying for the early lead, with Elly Dee applying some pressure from a middle draw. Open race! Plenty of winning form in this field with five last start winners and three shooting for a hattrick. Miss Verbier fits this bill having won in lesser grade at her past two starts. She showed good dash to come from last at Cranbourne a fortnight ago when forced to the extreme outside. Will need luck from barrier one but looks progressive enough to go close here. Mrs Chrissie won easily first-up before running well at Flemington last start. She finished within half-a-length of Golden Topaz winner Yulong Storm there and if she can cross to find the lead today will be in this for a long way. Lucky Canuck drops in grade having gone close at Headquarters three weeks ago. On the strength of that run she must be considered a winning hope. Elly Dee is yet to miss a placing from six attempts and Verbano’s Warrnambool win carries subsequent city form. Spylark has the ability to match it with these but may find a few too sharp at this trip. Barrier draw no help and the stable will be looking for her to run through the line as she stretches out over more ground next start. Will be doing her best work late.
Currently, Spylark is a $34 chance in the market.