Mo’unga and Akuta star on big Friday Night Lights

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Mo’unga has sealed his place in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with an impressive win in the Allied Security Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington Raceway tonight.

The Regan Todd-trained star bided his time early as favourite Franco Marek headed to the front only for driver Robbie Close to unleash late and overhaul the leader, who held on for second ahead of American Me and defending champion Dalton Shard.

It was an outstanding effort from Mo’unga, who had started off 10 metres.

The Bettor’s Delight six-year-old was sixth fresh up at Addington earlier in the month and was clearly improved by the outing.

It was his 12th career win and on the back of his win he is a $21 equal sixth favourite for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 11.

Todd was delighted with the victory.

“It is great, we can now pick and choose which races we go in.”

“It wasn’t a pretty watch but Goose (Robbie Close) knew what he was doing.”

“To win is great.”

The Maurice Holmes Vase is the first of the automatic New Zealand Cup qualifiers, joining the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup (September 5) and the Canterbury Classic (October 17), also at Addington, and the Holmes DG at Alexandra Park on October 3.

Also at $21 for the NZ Cup is Akuta. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star returned to winning ways in a small field at Alexandra Park in the Auckland Trotting Club – For the Horse Mobile Pace.

It was the millionaire pacer’s 17th win in 33 stars.

“He knows what it’s all about, he won well,” says co-trainer/driver Mark Purdon. 

Purdon had three driving successes on the night. His other winners were Special Occasion(R2) and Midnight Miki (R6).
 
Akuta will now head to Addington for the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup on September 5. 

On what was a big Friday Night Lights the trotting feature at Addington was the VIP Trade Basil Dean Mobile Free For All. 

Muscle Mountain was a $3 second favourite behind Love N The Port ($2.90). Muscle Mountain speared to the lead and then got the trail behind Love N The Port only to explode up the passing lane to win easily. 

It was a Greg and Ben Hope-trained quinella with Midnight Dash running home strongly into second.

It was Muscle Mountain’s 37th success.

“He’s getting older and he may not be the horse he was but it’s such a privilege to be behind him,” say winning driver and co-trainer Ben Hope.

The big target is the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on IRT New Zealand Cup day on Tuesday, November 11. It’s race he is yet to win. 

“We’ll head to the Ordeal Cup next,” says Hope.

That will be at Addington on September 5, the same night as the New Brighton Cup.

Hope had a double for the night, also winning with Our Shangri Lana (R9) while Bob Butt had a driving treble with Crunch Time (R1), the very impressive Duchess of Kent (R5) and Confessional (R6).  

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