SMARTLY performed import Drunken Sailor will have to overcome a huge weight disadvantage against the rest of the field if he is to win the Mornington Cup but on quality he does look good value.

Alloted 60kg., he is giving 5.5kg. to the next weighted horse Western Jewel with the rest of the 14 horse field all set  the minimum weight of 54kg.

Drunken Sailor was entered for last week’s Hobart Cup but his trainer Michael Moroney elected to bypass that race when the horse was lumped with 60.5kg.

The Mornington race will be Drunken Sailor’s second start for Moroney after  the Flemington trainer took over responsibilities for the horse from English trainer Luca Cumani who prepared him for his assault on the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

In the two biggest staying races in Victoria Drunken Sailor ran a pleasing seventh in the Caulfield Cup before he was checked in the running when 12^th in the Melbourne Cup.

First up for Moroney he sat just off the pace throughout and held on well for third over 1800m at Caulfield on January 26.

He will have no trouble with the extra distance at Mornington having won up to 3200m in England.

In fact his most successful distance has been the 2400m over which he has won three races including a Group 3 event at Goodwood last July.

At present Drunken Sailor is a juicy $16.00 with Sportingbet while at $2.30 the favourite for the Mornington Cup is the highly promising Power O’Raylee who has won her last five starts which began with a 1500m maiden win at Mornington last November.

Since then she has gone on to win at the four Melbourne city tracks including a last start 4 length win over 240m at Moonee Valley on January 27.

The Mornington Cup is the eighth race on a big 10 race card and is scheduled ot be run at 4pm.

Race 8 Mornington Cup 2400m 4pm