Australia: Mornay tries to win off layoff in Wellington handicap

The Australian mare Mornay has not raced since October, but that not may hinder her chances for a fifth career win in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on Monday at Wellington Racecourse.

Mornay has won following layoffs in the past, a promising trend for her appearance in a field of 11 at Wellington. A 6-year-old, Mornay will have her first start for trainer Andrew Molloy, having previously been trained by Luke Hilton.

Mornay is a closer, who has won 2 of 5 starts at 5 1/2 furlongs. Jockey Ken Dunbar takes the mount for the first time. Dunbar won with 2 of 50 mounts from July 6 through Aug. 29.

The 9-year-old gelding I Am Capitan may be the runner to catch. I Am Capitan has won 3 of 34 starts and has been second in 14 races.

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I Am Capitan was second by a half-length in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 23 at Bathurst in his most recent start. I Am Capitan is winless in his last 18 appearances, since a handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs at Orange Racecourse in February 2019.

The 6-year-old mare Champagne Daisy is the lone runner in the field with a win in her last start. Champagne Daisy closed from seventh in a field of nine to win a four-furlong handicap at Narromine Racecourse on Aug. 15. She has won four times in her career, at distances ranging from a half-mile to 6 1/2 furlongs.

Wellington has an eight-race program that begins at 10:55 p.m. Eastern, or 7:55 p.m. Pacific, on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Zaaki, Nature Spirit win stakes

Zaaki and Nature Spirit, two of Australia’s leading older horses, moved closer to starts in lucrative races in October with victories in group stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday.

Zaaki won his first start since June in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes at seven furlongs, his fourth consecutive win. Ridden by James McDonald, Zaaki ($3.40 in American pools) closed from fifth in a field of 10 to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Aramayo.

Trained by Annabel Neasham, Zaaki is the 9-5 future-book favorite to win the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct 23. The $3.7 million Cox Plate is Australia’s leading weight-for-age race.

Nature Spirit, Australia’s 2019-20 Horse of the Year, won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at five furlongs, a prep for the $11.1 million Everest Sakes at six furlongs on Oct. 16 at Randwick.

In the Concorde, Nature Spirit ($2.60) led throughout under McDonald to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Wild Ruler.