Always Enuff's knockout performance secures Mornington victory

Always Enuff, a galloper from the local stables, delivered a knockout blow to punters with a decisive win at Mornington.

The Shane Nichols and Hayden Black-trained mare triumphed in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap, a 1000-metre event held on Saturday.

With Zac Spain in the saddle, Always Enuff ($41) recorded a comfortable 1-¼ length victory over the $2.50 favourite, Tres Magnifique. Saluted ($6.50) finished a further neck behind in third place.

Spain suggested he was merely a 'passenger' during the race, stating the mare guided him towards the lead as they rounded the home bend.

"I couldn't get in and I was three-wide," Spain told Racing.com.

"They went quick early and then the tempo came out of the race, and she just started to tow me from the 500 (metres)."

"She loves this track, being trained here, and Shane has kept her mad fresh and with no weight on her back, I allowed her to flow, and she showed her good turn of foot that she normally shows."

"There's not much credit to me, I was basically a passenger today."

This victory marks Always Enuff's third career win at the Mornington circuit, where Nichols and Black conduct their training operations.

Nichols highlighted that the mare benefited from carrying less weight on Saturday, having shouldered 58kg for a first-up fourth at Bendigo and then 59.5kg for an eighth-place finish at Caulfield on September 16.

"She was really good first-up then had no luck second-up when she got too far out of her ground with 59-½ kilos but worked up to the line good," Nichols commented.

"I felt she hadn't gone backwards and this race we thought would be a good race for her."

"She has won three times here now and down to 54 (kilos) she was able to make a strong run and she was quite impressive."

"It was good for the group. They've been a bit patient with her, and the races have to be run to suit now, with a bit of sting out of the track, but it's a nice pay day for her."

The trainer confirmed that the 1000m distance is ideal for Always Enuff and that their focus now shifts to finding a suitable 'Black Type' race over that distance.

"We'll probably try and hunt some 'Black Type' with her," Nichols said.

"She's won $300,000 and she's run fourth in a Stakes race, so we might try and target something down in the weights."

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