Betting tips / Gary Crispe / 15 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Timeform's Gary Crispe believes strong stayer Sea Galleon can bounce back to winning form in today's Listed Centrebet Mornington Cup (race 8) at Mornington.

Prepared at Cranbourne by Colin and Cindy Alderson, Sea Galleon has been in top form this campaign but had little luck last time, and can bounce back over the 2400m in this Listed race.

Sea Galleon kicked off his campaign with a win over 1400m at Ballarat before stepping up in journey at his next two runs, finishing a close-up fifth at Cranbourne over a mile then seventh over 2000m at Flemington. Returning to 2400m on heavy ground at Sandown Hillside, he sat just off the pace throughout before looming up in the straight and clearing out with a four length win.

Alderson then headed to Sydney for the Listed Christmas Cup at Rosehill. There he sat midfield throughout before circling the field and striking the front soon after straightening, kicking strong to score a length win.

He was given a let up following that run and returned to Melbourne to contes the Listed Victoria Cup over 2000m at Caulfield where he drifted back in the small field but found trouble on the turn in traffic, being held up before battling home to finish sixth behind Bolton. While the effort was seemingly disappointing he does have a few positives heading into today's race.

He will strip much fitter for the run, his first in two months, and is much better suited over the journey. He drops nicely in the weights from 58kg to 54kg, the minimum, and has drawn ideally in barrier three. The gelding is strong at the journey and looks hard to hold out.

The favourite, in-form mare Power O'Raylee, rates as the horse to beat, but at her short price is probably under the odds.

The mare, from the Peter Moody yard, was sixth fresh-up before returning to winning form over 1508m here to score a two length maiden win.

She's come a long way since then, winning her next four runs as well. Third-up she won over 1800m at Caulfield in an RB72 then took an RB78 over the same journey Sandown Hillside. Up to 2000m at Flemington she drew wide but raced forward, and was way too good for the fillies and mares in RB89 class, before winning against fillies and mares in open class last start over 2040m at Moonee Valley.

The mare won by big margins at all those runs and drops nicely in the weights for this and has drawn well in barrier one. But she takes on a much tougher grade here, gets to 2400m for the first time and it's certainly a huge task to go from a maiden win to an open age win in stakes grade in the one campaign.

While she looks most promising, and could well measure up to even better races, the price is a turn-off today.

Tough stayer Apprehend returned to winning form last time and should give a big sight at each way odds.

Prepared by Tony Vasil, Apprehend was sound from a wide gate three back in the Bagot Handicap then a solid fifth over 2500m at Flemington next time out. Last start, in the Werribee Cup, he led throughout and kicked clear for a three-length win. He drops in weight for today's race and although drawn wide has a good record here. The trip suits and he'll take catching.


GARY'S TOP PICKS FOR RACE 8@MORNINGTON
(1) Sea Galleon
(2) Power O'Raylee
(3) Apprehend