Muniandy unearths another promising three-year-old

[Wandering Eyes]

Wingatui trainer Shankar Muniandy is developing a knack for producing exciting three-year-olds, and he may have his hands on another in Pontoon.

The Ace High gelding had the one start as a two-year-old, finishing fifth over 1000m at Riccarton in March, and he returned to the Christchurch track last month where he placed in the Guineas Trial (1400m).

Muniandy was pleased with that effort, and while he said he has strengthened since he was a juvenile, there is still plenty of improvement to come.

“When I got him as a two-year-old he showed us quite a bit,” Muniandy said. “He is still green and has got a lot of learning to do, but he came back from his spell big and strong, and he has got a bright future as a three-year-old.

“He has come through the race really well, his work has been good. He is really happy and I can’t fault him.”

Pontoon will get his first tilt at stakes level on Saturday in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton, for which he is rated a $9.50 hope with TAB bookmakers.

“It is not hard to ride him. Terry Moseley knows the horse well and if he can be in the first half dozen I will be happy,” Muniandy said.

Pontoon holds a nomination for next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Muniandy said Saturday’s result will help dictate whether they continue down that path.

Another stable runner set to head to Riccarton for New Zealand Cup week is dual stakes winner Loose Sally.

The four-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose was a standout for Muniandy last term, winning three of her six starts, including the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) and Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m).

She has enjoyed a spell since her last start winning effort in the Warstep Stakes in April, and Muniandy has been pleased with the way she has returned.

“She has come back big and strong, and she is ticking along well,” he said.

The Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) on the middle day of New Zealand Cup Week has been highlighted as her major spring aim, and she will commence her path towards that feature in Saturday’s Agraforum Growing Innovation 1400.

“The TAB Mile is the plan for her,” Muniandy said. “We will see what she does on Saturday and then she will have another race before the TAB Mile.”

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