Big Memory Ready To Win Mornington Cup

Big Memory was included in the 2015 Mornington Cup field that was released yesterday and trainer Tony McEvoy believes that the talented stayer is ready to win the Listed event at Mornington Cup on Saturday.

Big Memory has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Mornington Cup this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Big Memory has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Mornington Cup this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

There was plenty of hype surrounding Big Memory at the start of his 2015 Melbourne Festival Of Racing campaign and he produced credible performances in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 14 and the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m) at the same venue on February 28, but he finished towards the tail of the field in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 14.

McEvoy told RSN this morning that Big Memory has trained on strongly heading into the 2015 Mornington Cup and the leading trainer indicated that the Duke Of Marmalade’s performance in the Australian Cup may not have been as bad as it appeared to the naked eye.

“He is really good,” McEvoy said.

“The horse has trained on beautifully, I was down on Melbourne and Mark Zahra put him through his paces and I think the horse is in really good form and is ready to win a race.

“I personally was disappointed, but Mark Zahra came in glowing in his report about the horse.

“I just felt that the 400 from the 200 he had the opportunity to quicken up and get past a few of those horses and he didn’t do that, but Mark said that be built really good momentum and when he was about to really hit the line strong he ran out of room.”

Big Memory was allocated barrier 16 when the 2015 Mornington Cup final field and barrier draw was released yesterday and McEvoy said that he was bitterly disappointed to have drawn such a wide gate.

McEvoy said that Big Memory has failed to fire when ridden quietly from a wide barrier draw in the past and he revealed that he was likely to instruct jockey Mark Zahra to press forward on the Herbert Power Stakes winner.

“He has had absolutely no luck with barriers this horse,” McEvoy said.

“I went back in the Caulfield Cup and went back in the Australian Cup and he just had no luck both times.

“It just doesn’t suit him to go back.

“I will speak to Mark, but I would like to see him a bit more forward.”

Big Memory is currently available at 2015 Mornington Cup odds of $10 with Ladbrokes, while Akzar ($4.80) is a narrow favourite from Extra Zero ($6), Index Linked ($6.50), Don Doremo ($9) and Genuine Lad ($11).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.