Hareeba Stakes next for home track hopeful Pop Award

Classy mare Pop Award resumes in Stakes level on Saturday, with co-trainer Lyn Tolson confident the home advantage at her local venue will counter the step up in class.

For her initial run at Mornington, the five-year-old contests the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m), the key sprint on the Mornington Cup day.

She notched a return to form at Flemington on March 28, prevailing in an 1100m handicap for mares, and Tolson sees the upcoming 1200m race as the ideal scenario for a black-type success at home base.

"Mornington is her home track, so if we could draw a gate it'd be good," Tolson, who trains in partnership with daughter Leonie Proctor, said.

"From what we can read, it's going to be a bit stronger Hareeba than we've had, but you can't keep them in cotton wool all the time at home in their box all the time, can you?"

In the Hareeba Stakes, Pop Award could face rivals such as Half-brothers Desert Lightning and Oak Hill, Punch Lane, Corniche, Big Swinger, Recommendation and Rosberg amid 27 nominations.

A daughter of Shamus Award, she aims for another Listed win following her success in the 1200m Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield back in August.

It's the top achievement in her record of six wins from 13 starts.

Out of five efforts on Soft or Heavy surfaces, she has three victories, and Tolson believes the predicted rain Thursday and Friday will suit.

"She does appreciate a bit of give in the track and she did a lot of racing last prep, when she wasn't going any good, on firmer going and she just likes the sting out," Tolson said.

"So, hopefully Mornington is not too hard, but she's an honest mare and she's trained on well from her last race."

Strong showing in the Hareeba Stakes could pave the way to Adelaide and the $150,000 Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) on May 9, according to Tolson.

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