Group 1 winning trainer Gavin Bedggood has meticulously prepared Mornington Glory for his forthcoming re-entry into competition.
Mornington Glory’s debut in almost seven months arrives in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) on Flemington’s Saturday program, where stablemate Johnny Rocker, a recent addition, will also appear.
Bedggood opted for extended recovery with Mornington Glory after ‘bone bruising’ was found following his subpar three-start spring preparation last year, culminating in last place in Randwick’s 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.”
Mornington Glory’s form soared in 2024’s early spring, capped by victory in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) held at Moonee Valley.
Two more races followed before a break; autumn trials preceded another spell due to a joint wrench.
Last spring, Bedggood acknowledged potential ‘trainer error’ in racing Mornington Glory off a lone trial, after which his three runs wrapped up.
Post-Saturday and one further start, Mornington Glory might head to Adelaide.
“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.”
Johnny Rocker’s first with Bedggood succeeds one Sydney effort for Bjorn Baker, after time with Nick Ryan at Flemington.
Under Ryan, he nearly overhauled Imperatriz in March 2024’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
“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.”
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