A bob of the head has seen Right You Are ($5) book his ticket to Caulfield Cup Day after a thrilling photo finish in this year’s Mornington Cup.
It’s a reward for consistency as this Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained gelding has had an exhaustive campaign, at one point stringing together five straight wins.
It was the first time Right You Are had been extended to the 2400m and did so nicely as he and Hezashocka ($5) went the line together. It was the son of So You Think that prevailed in the end despite a bumping dual with 200m left to run.
Adelaide Cup winner Rebel Racer led them up in a crawl which left backmarker Hezashocker forced into a mid-race move by Blake Shinn, almost making it a winning effort before Right You Are chimed in to spoil the party.
Stablemate of the eventual winner Herman Hesse ($21) has put together a career best running into third with Nonconformist ($4) sticking to the task for fourth. Most other runners didn’t seem to handle either the trip, or conditions, finishing well back in the field.
2023 Listed Mornington Cup – Right You Are
Stable representative Jack Turnbull spoke post-race and joked that if the photo didn’t go there way, the protest lodged would’ve been a swift one.
“I spoke to Ciaron as soon as they crossed the line and he said throw in a protest. We were ready to go, but thankfully we didn’t have to,” said Turnbull.
“This is the ultimate. He was a rehab horse. He had a soft tissue injury so he’s taken a lot of nursing over a long time.
“You hear it a lot, but the team has managed him really well. Its been a slow procedure, but he’s been ultra consistent. You look at his form and how he’s progressed, it’s just wonderful.
“I think he’s been up since October, so he’s a marvel. He loves racing, he loves being in the stable. He’s well-loved by the staff and he’s a happy horse.
“Hopefully he can remain sound. I would imagine he goes for a well-earned break and we can aim for the spring.”
Winning jockey Ben Allen gave plenty of credit to regular jockey Ethan Brown who couldn’t take the mount due to injury, before praising the stable as well.
“Credit to the team, keeping him sound and keeping him up,” Said Allen.
“I thought his run at Sandown was superb. The track wasn’t on our side. His wheels were spinning, but today, on top of the ground, he’s a different horse.
“A lot of credit has to go to Ethan. He’s not an easy horse. Ethan’s won all the races on him. If he wasn’t injured, he would be riding him today, but I’m sure he’d be rapt that I won on him.
“It’s unfortunate, but that’s racing.”
Right You Are is currently a $26 chance in the 2023 Caulfield Cup later in the year.
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