The promise of a heavy track at Doomben hasn’t stopped top jockey Chris Munce in thinking Lucky Morna can make a successful return to racing in the Listed Carlton Mid Mode Plate (1200m) on Saturday.
Munce who has ridden 17 winners from his last 64 rides, unsurprisingly has a full book of rides of which four are for trainer Kelso Wood.
One of those horses is Lucky Morna.
She is having her first start since finishing 8th to Belle D’amour in the Listed Lancaster Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 11.
The Ferocity filly has only had six starts with her lone victory on a heavy track at Eagle Farm in April.
Her best effort at black-type was when second to Fontelina in the Phoenix (1350m) at Doomben in May.
“She raced against the best two-year-olds of the time during the winter up here,” Munce said.
“I think she’s improved a lot from her two-year-old days.”
“She’s as forward as she can be without going to the races,
Despite a degree of confidence Munce concedes the filly will be better for the run.
“She’s had two trials but obviously there will be improvement on whatever she does on Saturday.”
TABsportsbet have Lucky Morna $3.80 second favourite to make a successful return.
Listed placegetter Charm’s Honour is $3.60 favourite with the betting company.
The Scone-trained filly has won three of seven starts, however, some can argue her finest moment was in defeated.
The bay finished second to the most talented Streama in the $100,000 Keith Mackay Quality at Randwick in April on a heavy track.
Trainer Greg Bennett explains the trip to Brisbane.
“I could have taken her to Sydney again this week but she would have got too much weight,” he said.
“It’s a nice little set weights race in Brisbane worth a bit of coin and there’s the black type as well.
“The Keith Mackay run wasn’t a fluke.
“It took Streama the length of the straight to run her down.”
“I had about eight Brisbane jockeys ring up for the ride.
“The (Brisbane) form is a bit foreign to me but the fact so many jockeys were chasing the ride is a good sign.”
Jockey Ric McMahon was the successful applicant.
While both Lucky Morna and Charm’s Honour have encouraging form on heavy ground, they are not alone.
Playtime, Saraji, Military Grace, Crazy Mamma, Gift Of The Day, Ticket To Dream and Witches Wonder have all shown good form on slow or heavy going.
Munce will also ride $7.50 chance Belltone in the Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) for Wood on Saturday.
The lightly raced six-year-old won his maiden on slow ground but failed in the heavy at his lone start.
On heavy, he finished fourth to Il Cardinale when a $2.80 chance in a maiden over 1640m.
Wood immediately dropped Belltone back in distance after that race.
The gelding’s latest run was very good when fifth to Listen Son beaten two lengths in the Keith Noud Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on November 26.
Belltone was having his first run from a spell and worked home well.
He has won second-up in the past.
