By Julian Cook
MORNINGTON hasn’t heard many cheers louder than on Saturday when Right You Are was declared the 2023 Neds Mornington Cup (2400m) winner.
The atmosphere was electric as Hezashocka and Right You Are paired off down the home straight with fans left on the edge of their seats in one of the closest photo finishes in recent memory.
With the crowd left in limbo for several minutes while the judge deliberated, Right You Are’s co-trainer David Eustace, who watched the race from a friend’s wedding, was none the wiser as to the result.
“I wasn’t sure actually,” Eustace said.
“I actually thought that it could have easily been a dead heat but yeah, it was close, wasn’t it?”
Reflecting on the performance the next day, a proud Eustace was quick to heap praise on his powerful gelding who began his marathon preparation over seven months ago in BM84 grade.
“Obviously he was very, very tough,” Eustace said.
“Yeah, it was terrific and you know, he just keeps on going from strength to strength.”
The Mornington Cup was Right You Are’s incredible sixth win from his previous seven starts. When asked whether his latest performance, against arguably one of the most talented Mornington Cup line-ups of all time, had surprised him, Eustace said that it’s Right You Are’s longevity that had amazed him the most.
“I wouldn’t say necessarily ‘surprise’ but yeah, it’s not necessarily that you’d expect him to end up racing for so long,” Eustace said.
Now likely to head to the paddock, Right You Are will be set for the biggest challenge of his career this spring with his Mornington Cup victory securing him automatic entry into October’s $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
“Absolutely yeah, I suspect he will have a bit of a break now and obviously we’ll focus on getting him spot on for the Cup,” Eustace said.
For now, Eustace’s attention will turn to overseas with he and co-trainer Ciaron Maher heading a strong Australian contingent on their way to Royal Ascot in the UK with their star filly Coolangatta.
“Really looking forward to that, it’s going to be a great trip, hopefully,” Eustace said.
“Yeah, that’s our focus for the next six weeks, getting her spot on for that.”