After winning the Group III Manion Cup (2400m) twelve months ago with Young Rascal (FR), William Haggas has done it again with Favorite Moon (GER).
Given a peach of a ride by Kerrin McEvoy, Favorite Moon held the challenge of the luckless Realm Of Flowers (So You Think) by a neck with Sacramento (Pierro) a further one and three-quarter length back in third.
The 4yo son of Sea The Moon arrived in Australia with a record of two wins, a second and a third from eight starts without looking up to Group class, although he did trot up be eight and a lengths at Haydock two stars back .
Stable representative Isabella Paul said they might look for another race before returning home.
“It’s pretty fun when they win like that - it makes it all worth it,” Paul said.
“He’s been brilliant. I think he’s coming into his own down here. The kind of one on one attention has really suited him.
“He’s just a lovely horse to have around, and he’s been training really well. Tom’s (Marquand) ridden him, and Kerrin’s (McEvoy) has ridden him at home, and they’ve both been really happy with him, so we’re obviously over the moon.
“He should be better over a little bit further, so we’ll talk to the boss and see what he wants to do next.”
Favotite Moon was a 100,000gns buy back from the Stauffenberg Bloodstock draft at the 2017 December Foal Sale. Haggas purchased Favorite Moon for 120,000gns out of Book 1 at the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to the Listed stakes-winner Fun Mac (Shirocco), Favorite Moon is one of five winners from six to race out of the Montjeu mare Favorite.
Favorite is a half-sister to the Champion Older Mare in Germany and Italy in 2006 (Int.), Floriot, whose eight wins included the Group 1 Premio Lydia Tesio.
