The Chris Waller-trained Mo'unga went into everyone’s black book with his storming performance to win at Newcastle at his most recent start and the 3yo son of Savabeel was favoured to keep his record at a perfect three for three with his black-type debut in Saturday’s Listed Drinkwise Dulcify Quality (1500m) at Rosehill.
He subsequently completed the task very impressively, but it was not without incidence.
James McDonald, on the well backed favourite, needed to give fellow New Zealander Jason Collett on Bazooka a hip and shoulder at the 300 metes to gain a run and once he did Mo'unga finished resolutely to defeat stablemate Global Quest (More Than Ready) by one and a half lengths with Jet Propulsion (Rubick) a short-neck back in third.
Waller all but ruled out a start in the Golden Rose for Mo'unga but he said Global Quest was a chance of lining up in the Group 1 feature in a fortnight.
“He got back from his wide draw, settled and bided his time and came through them like a real professional, it looked like Lonhro bursting through with his white socks on,” Waller said.
“He’s not quite ready for the pressure (of a Golden Rose) but I will speak to Shane (McGrath) and the team at Aquis but the plan was always the Champion (Stakes). I think he has got a great future and we don’t want to bottom him out too quickly.
“In my opinion he is jut not seasoned enough for that type of racing but he is something very special to look forward too.
“Lee Magorrian got off him last start at Newcastle, and I rate Lee as a really good jockey and he said that this is a Guineas type of horse. He said it was probably the best horse he has ridden and I respect that from Lee as he has ridden a lot of good horses.”
Both the winner and runner-up carry the Aquis silks
The progressive farm purchased Mo'unga for $325,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft at the 2019 NZB Karaka Book 1.
He is the third foal and first winner for the Group III placed O’Reilly mare Chandelier who is a sister to the Group II Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Irlanda.
Chandelier has a yearling filly by Savabeel and was covered by the champion son of Zabeel again last season.
It was a good few minutes for Savabeel as the Sydney Cup runner-up The Chosen One lumped his top-weight of 61kgs to victory in the Winning Edge Presentations Handicap (1700m) showing his is on track for the cups.
