Basilinna targeting Mornington Cup for key exemption

Connections of Basilinna seek a fresh chance in a 'win and you're in' contest coming up at Mornington.

In the previous year, Basilinna earned entry into the Melbourne Cup ballot by taking out the Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington back in May.

While trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne keep open the possibility of revisiting the Andrew Ramsden, their immediate focus is the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) this Saturday.

The Mornington Cup victor gains a ballot waiver for the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.

This campaign, Basilinna has raced twice, at 1800m and 2000m distances, and David Browne indicated the 2400m on Saturday aligns far better with the mare's strengths.

Browne suspects, however, that fitness-wise, the mare is a single run short, thanks to a bone chip injury that halted her spring last year and excluded her from the Melbourne Cup.

"She's got a good soft draw so she should be able to sit in a good spot," Browne said.

"Then we'll need some luck getting out and hopefully there's a bit of rain as that will help her out as well.

"A Soft 6 or 7, I would be happy, but if it stays a Soft 5, it's still good for her."

The trainer is satisfied with Basilinna's showings in both outings this time in, despite facing superior fields each time.

Returning first-up, she trailed the field in the Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, followed by an eighth-place effort in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 28.

"I thought her run in a high-pressure race, against very good company, was excellent last time," Browne said.

"She beat the horses she needed to beat, and that's all you can ask.

"She feels better than she ever has, so we're pretty happy in that way but the hardest thing with her is she has been one run behind.

"When you take a chip out like we had to last year, that puts you behind because she was a bit burly to start with, so that is why we had to go to the Australian Cup to play a bit of catch up and get a run into her.

"The first two weren't suitable races for her to go in, but I thought she did a good job."

Basilinna's schedule post-Saturday stays undecided.

Potential next steps are the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on May 7 or the Listed Andrew Ramsden on May 16 at Flemington.

"If she went to Warrnambool, that might pull her up for the campaign as it is a pretty quick back-up to Flemington," Browne said.

"I think we'll play that last one by ear, whether we do both or pop her out."

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