Steady rain added to the drama of Saturday’s $5million All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley, and what a thrilling finish it proved to be.
With a rapidly deteriorating track, punters threw support behind Mugatoo (IRE) and Russian Camelot (IRL), who put on an exhibition before a boisterous crowd.
Damien Oliver on Russian Camelot (IRE) looked to have pocketed Hugh Bowman on Mugatoo (IRE) rounding the home turn. But the seas parted for Mugatoo (IRE) in the straight.
Australian Thoroughbreds imported son of Henrythenavigator (USA) finished best to defeat Russian Camelot (IRL) (Camelot) by a half-length with a further three and a quarter lengths back to Behemoth (All Too Hard) in third.
Winning trainer Kris Lees thought Mugatoo (IRE) was in trouble on the turn.
“Coming to the corner I was thinking ‘just have no bad luck from here, please’. I thought the other one had his measure, but he really rallied and found. It was great to see,” Lees said.
“It’s been well received still with a restricted crowd, but the roar went up when the gates opened. It’s putting its footprint on racing now. It’s up and going, isn’t it.
“It’s right up there, a great concept and great to be a part of it.
Lees said that Australian Bloodstock had been a great addition to the stable.
“They’re so good and they have been so good to me,” he said.
“To get a quality horse like this to come into your stable. It is every trainer’s dream, and I’m very fortunate.
“I just kept looking at the sky all morning, waiting for the rain to come. It certainly enhanced our chances.”
Hugh Bowman said it was a thrilling race.
“That is just so exciting. It is amazing the emotion involved with this sport,” Bowman said.
“After rides in race two and five, the track was not ideal for Mugatoo to run a mile against this opposition, but then the rain came.
“I did not expect to ride him like that. I was hoping to be three deep, getting a trail up.
“I stayed to the rail, gave him the shortest way home. He got into a really good rhythm, but it was not as frantic as I expected it to be with the rain coming.
Mugatoo (IRE) advances his record to nine wins, two seconds and one third from 18 starts with earnings of $3,214,517.
A 6yo gelded son of the former Coolmore shuttler Henrythenavigator (USA ), Mugatoo (IRE) won his first three starts in Australia, including the Listed Canberra Cup having won two of his six starts in England when trained by David Simcock.
A half-brother to Listed stakes-winner Elik (Dalakhani), Mugatoo (IRE) is one of three winners from six to race out of the Champion Older Female in Germany in 2005 (Int.), Elopa, a Group II winner and Group 1-placed daughter of another former shuttler Tiger Hill (IRE).
Elopa is a three-quarter-sister to multiple Group II winner Eye Of The Tiger and Listed winner Echoes Rock and a half-sister to Group 1 Singapore Cup winner Epalo (Lando) and stakes-winners Evening Breeze (Surumu) and Evening Storm (Acatenango).
