Trainer Gavin Bedggood has built a strong foundation of fitness for Group 1 winner Mornington Glory ahead of his racing return.
He steps out for the first time in near seven months in Saturday’s Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) at Flemington, joined by the yard’s latest recruit Johnny Rocker.
Following a diagnosis of ‘bone bruising’, Bedggood proceeded deliberately with Mornington Glory after his three unsuccessful early spring runs last year, finishing tail-end in the Randwick Concorde Stakes.
“Post Sydney, we sent him off for an MRI and scintigraphy, and he came back with pod lesions, or severe bone bruising,” Bedggood said.
“He had a three-month paddock break, a long rehab and returned with a month on the water walker, a month on the sandhills (at Cranbourne) and then a month of pacework.
“He’s got a really good base of fitness on him. He won his last trial, but I would say I have seen him trial better than what he did.
“He’s a horse that has not performed at his best first-up, but I would be disappointed if he didn’t run well.”
Early spring 2024 saw Mornington Glory in top nick, sealing it with a Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) win at Moonee Valley.
After two subsequent starts, rest followed; autumn trials ended with a joint issue prompting another break.
Bedggood suggested ‘trainer error’ may have occurred by entering Mornington Glory last spring with minimal trialling, ending after three outings.
An Adelaide campaign might materialise for Mornington Glory after this weekend and another run.
“He’s got to put his hand up and show me something in his first two runs, otherwise we might pull the pin,” Bedggood said.
“I don’t want to be that trainer that had a good horse that kept on banging it around for the sake of running it.
“He owes us nothing and we owe him everything.”
Bedggood welcomes Johnny Rocker for his first start post one Sydney go with Bjorn Baker, formerly with Nick Ryan based at Flemington.
Ryan’s charge saw Johnny Rocker press Imperatriz right to the wire in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, March 2024.
“We’ve probably had him for six weeks and he and Mornington Glory have pretty much been workmates,” Bedggood said.
“I thought he galloped fantastic at Caulfield the other week but trialled below par at Cranbourne.
“His fitness is very good. He had the one run in Sydney before coming to me and like Mornington Glory, you want to see him be competitive and show he’s still got that zest for racing.
“He lives out in a yard. He’s gone from being boxed at Flemington and Warwick Farm, so we’re trying to get him right mentally.”
Head to the betting sites for excellent options on Flemington’s Bob Hoysted Handicap.