Trainer Gavin Bedggood and the connections of Mornington Glory were banking on the fittest horse supplying them with a Group 1 win at Moonee Valley.
Sustained speed over the 1000m journey of the Moir Stakes on Saturday saw Bedggood land his first Group 1 win and gift the owners of the sprinter a third straight win over the course and distance this campaign.
Leading throughout under Ethan Brown, Mornington Glory ($9) held on to score a half-length win over Hayasugi ($11) with Lady Of Camelot ($5) a long-head away third.
Mornington Glory is unbeaten in four starts over the 1000m course at Moonee Valley and went into Saturday’s contest with victories in a benchmark 100 race on August 10 and in the Listed Carlyon Stakes two weeks later under the belt.
Bedggood played a waiting game before committing to a start in Saturday’s Group 1 contest, but had the fittest horse on the scene where the majority of his opposition were resuming from a break.
He said he felt more nervous ahead of Mornington Glory’s last start win than having a chance in a Group 1 race on Saturday.
“I felt a bit of pressure last time and I was pretty comfortable coming here today,” Bedggood said.
“We were the underdog, and he seems to always be that way.
“He ran third in an (Group 1) Oakleigh Plate last preparation and he came here today with three runs under his belt where the rest of the field were all first-up.
“We were the underdog, but we had a lot of ticks next to our name too.”
Mornington Glory started his career with Matt Laurie and scored a debut win at Mornington in September 2021, but two years later was in Bedggood’s care having been retired.
“These owners have thrown me a bone,” Bedggood said.
“It’s a great ownership group and they’ll party hard tonight, no doubt.
“I had a great career riding over the jumps and loved it and I still love following the jumping races, but we just do what we can with whatever horses get thrown our way.”
Brown made full use of the inside draw to lead after Mornington Glory began smartly.
He said it was gutsy to take on some very good sprinters, but Brown knew he was on a fit horse.
“He jumped so well, so I thought, you know what, I’m going,” Brown said.
“He had crucial fitness, and I thought the track was playing OK. He’s got a good turn of foot and he’s proven he’s a genuine Group 1, weight-for-age horse.
“That straight got long in that last 50 metres, and I’m just rapt that he held on for Gav.
“Everyone knows he does a good job with his horses and I’m so thrilled to get his first Group 1 win for him.”