Mornington Glory ($10) has given the combination of Gavin Bedggood and Ethan Brown their first Group 1 victories as trainer and jockey, following an all-the-way win in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon.
The son of Shalaa had won his last two starts at Moonee Valley before entering the Group 1 contest, and even though he opened as a massive outsider with horse racing bookmakers, he was heavily backed during the day and saluted for his supporters in the biggest race of his 20-start career.
After drawing barrier one, many were wondering what Bedggood and Brown would conjure up, but there wouldn’t have been many that had Mornington Glory leading both Lady Of Camelot ($5) and Estriella ($3.10) throughout the 1000m journey on a solid tempo.
Brown allowed his mount to run the race at his own tempo; however, he appeared to pick up the speed at the 400m mark, and the other two speed influences came off the bit before the home corner.
It was all honours to the winner, thanks to a brave front-running ride by Ethan Brown, as Mornington Glory took out the feature race by half a length over the fast-finishing Hayasugi ($10), who flashed home for second place ahead of a brave Lady Of Camelot.
2024 Moir Stakes replay – Mornington Glory
Gavin Bedggood wasn’t as emotional as he was when Mornington Glory claimed the Carlyon Stakes last start, but he was still very happy with the win post-race.
“I’m pretty good, I felt a bit of pressure last time, but I was pretty comfortable coming here today,” Bedggood said.
“We were the underdog and he seems to always be that way.
“He took bad luck out of the equation today.
“He’s begun really well his last two starts and when he jumped a half in front of them today – there was no instruction to lead – but Browny just used his initiative and went with the horse and the rest is history.
“I wanted to draw two, three, four, give us options, but one was better than nine. So I was pretty happy.
“It nearly didn’t happen, he was retired this horse and as I said last time, these owners throwing me a bone (is appreciated).
“It’s a great ownership group and they’ll party hard tonight, no doubt.”
Ethan Brown was just as happy with the victory and he spoke post-race.
“He was presented here in terrific order,” Brown said.
“He drew gate one and he flew the lids and just had an easy time of it.
“(He was) fit, well. I was the beneficiary of a well-prepared horse for a great bunch of owners.
“I don’t know, really.
“I’m very over the moon, it’ll take a while to sink in but, as I said, there’s a great bunch of owners in this horse, it’s terrific to get a Group 1 win for Gav, it’s his first, capped off what was a challenging day. I’m so rapt.”
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