A spot in this year's Caulfield Cup is at stake for the winner of the Mornington Cup but trainer Robbie Laing is looking at a staying test north of the border with Don Doremo.
Laing has his sights on the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11 with the son of Don Eduardo.
Don Doremo is heading to the Mornington Cup after winning a benchmark 90 over 2040m at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Laing said the gelding pulled up in excellent order and would appreciate the rise to 2400m on Saturday.
"He had Saturday in the paddock, went to the aquaciser on Sunday and had a trot and canter on Monday," Laing said.
"He's bright and free."
Laing is confident Don Doremo will be competitive in both upcoming Cups races, describing him as a promising horse who has finally realised what racing is all about.
"If he can get in with a light weight and get a good draw he can peel off some quick sectionals at the end," Laing said.
Vlad Duric, who rode the gelding to victory at Moonee Valley, will continue to have the ride on the gelding until he can no longer make the weight.
Don Doremo is one of 26 nominations for the $350,000 Listed race.
Just as the Bendigo meeting was last Saturday, the Mornington meeting is of metropolitan standard with 10 races on the card.
Other Mornington Cup nominations include Australian Cup runner-up Extra Zero, Akzar, Big Memory, Entirely Platinum, Gamblin' Guru, Renew, Index Linked and last year's Queensland Derby winner Sonntag.
Missing from the line-up is The Cleaner who will be saved for the Easter Cup at Caulfield the following week.
The support card includes the Mornington Sires' (1500m), Mornington Guineas (1500m) and the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m).