Nonconformist will be chasing a gold ticket to the Caulfield Cup in Saturday's Mornington Cup

Mick Sharkie is confident the real Nonconformist will stand up in Saturday’s Mornington Cup. Picture: Vince Caligiuri–Getty Images

Mornington Cup day Saturday with the big race winner earns a ‘gold ticket' into the 2023 Caulfield Cup in the spring and Betr form expert Mick Sharkie is confident.

Nonconformist is $5 second favourite with Betr but has proven his class, previously running second in a Caulfield Cup and charged home to win the Group 2 Blamey before a midfield finish in the Australian Cup last start.

Sharkie pointed to $3.90 favourite Hezashocka "having to do some work at some point of the race from the barrier (14).

"With an inside gate Nonconformist (barrier one) third up into this race, I think he'll win and he'll put a little margin on them – very confident," Sharkie said.

"Gear Up is an interesting horse coming down for Annabel Neasham, couple of runs up in Sydney for this import and he's got some good form over 2400m in Ireland and UK."

For third Sharkie included Hezashocka but reiterated his concerns about the wide barrier and how the race would be run.

Simon O'Donnell pointed to the form of Hezashocka in Group 1 company recently as his reason for believing the five-year-old could overcome any adversity and win, with Nonconformist rated as his main danger.

Swords Drawn was included by O'Donnell declaring the ultra-consistent galloper worthy of consideration around the $16 mark.

In the feature sprint, the $200,000 Hareeba Stakes both Sharkie and O'Donnell agreed Jigsaw is the one they all have to beat.

The gelding won four straight in brilliant fashion before a last start failure at Moonee Valley, but it was the Group 1 William Reid Stakes.

"Curran is probably the danger," Sharkie said.

Betr have Jigsaw at $2.70 favourite with Curran third pick at $6.50.

MORNINGTON BEST BET

MICK SHARKIE

Nonconformist – Race 8 No 3 ($5)

BEST VALUE

Our Redente – Race 5 No 5 ($5)

SIMON O'DONNELL

BEST BET

Squad (Race 3 No 11 – $4.40)

BEST VALUE

Swords Drawn (Race 8 No 11 – $16)