The Mornington Four

Talented mare Bonnie Belle (pictured) will be one of four runners stepping out at Mornington today and the daughter of Keeper will be hoping to run into some better luck this time out after running out of room in the final stages at Moonee Valley early in the month.

Stepping up to 2000m for the first time in her lightly tried career, Bonnie Belle looks a solid chance to record her fourth career win in the Rating 70 Handicap event.

Trainer Mike Moroney summed up the race as a “Small but strong field.” And felt that given her fitness levels are good, now was as good a time as any to give her a run over ground.

“She comes up against some more experienced stayers, although it does look a good race to have a go at.”

“There was a query as to whether she will get over ground, but we’ll soon find out today if she can.”

Diamond Ring (Wanted x Rock Success) will make her second race day appearance in the maiden three-year-old plate over 1200m and will have the services of Ballymore’s stable rider Patrick Moloney.

“She runs into a very slick field today, but in saying that we think she will run a whole lot better than her first outing,” Moroney said.

“If she can get favours in the running we think she is up to being competitive and a good place chance.”

Chief Moondance (Foxwedge x Personal Service) is another having his second race day start and will line up in the second maiden three-year-old event on the card.

“This looks an ideally suitable race for him and not overly strong,” Moroney said.

“He over-raced last start and as a result we’ve applied the ear covers and crossover just to help him relax throughout.”

Moroney has been very pleased with how he has trained on and believes if he can run to form, and improves his racing manners through the gear changes, is a good winning chance.

Butler Butler (Commands x Late Watch) is the fourth runner on the program and will take part in the maiden event over 1500m.

“We’ve taken the blinkers off for this race and we’d like to see him get mobile and roll forward as we think he is finally getting up to a suitable distance.”

“We’re happy with his work, our only question mark is whether or not he will be suited to the turning Mornington track which can catch front runners out.”

Butler Butler made his first race day appearance on the synthetic track, which he wasn’t overly comfortable in, and should find the Mornington surface more to his liking.

The son of Commands will also be ridden by stable rider Patrick Maloney.