Mo’unga ready for title defence

[Wandering Eyes]

Mo’Unga (NZ) (Savabeel) will bid to join an illustrious group of horses to have claimed back-to-back wins in the Winx Stakes when he resumes in a star-studded renewal of the Group One opener.

A final field of 11 was declared on Wednesday highlighted by seven Group One winners, including two of last season’s most promising colts, Anamoe (Street Boss) and Profondo (Deep Impact), and early Caulfield and Melbourne Cup favourite Duais (Shamus Award).

Mo’unga claimed the scalp of glamour mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) to win the corresponding race 12 months ago and his regular rider Tommy Berry has been pleasantly surprised by the horse’s physical development since his light autumn.

“He’s come back much stronger. I was quite surprised because he’s five now and you don’t really expect them to mature that much between four and five,” Berry said.

“He was the winner of the Winx Stakes last year, so hopefully he can do it again this year.”

A notoriously indifferent trackworker and trialler, Mo’unga switches on when the blinkers are fitted for race day and he will sport them as usual on Saturday.

However, despite his reputation as a lazy worker, he did pique Berry’s interest with his first barrier trial effort when he finished third to Saturday’s Winx Stakes rival Hilal (Fastnet Rock).

“It’s hard to get a gauge off his work and trials but this is the best he has trialled ever in his whole career,” Berry sad.

“Usually he’s out the back getting scrubbed along, so you’d have to say his (first) trial has been much better than what he’s produced before a first-up run in the past and physically, it’s the best he has ever felt.”

Known as the Warwick Stakes until 2018, the Winx Stakes (1400m) has stood the test of time as an important spring carnival launch pad.

If Mo’unga can mount a successful title defence, he will join the likes of Chatham (1933-34), San Domenico (1950-51), Sky High (1961-62), Kingston Town (1980-82), Super Impose (1990-91), Lonhro (2001, 2003) and Winx (2016-18) as multiple winners.

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