Exciting three-year-old Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) will be looking to end his autumn preparation on a high when he contests the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Savabeel colt has placed in both of his starts this campaign, including a last start runner-up effort behind fellow expat Kiwi Lion’s Roar in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Trainer Annabel Neasham has been pleased with the way he has come through his Randwick Guineas run and is hoping he can go one better this weekend.
“Mo’unga is in super order. He worked really well this morning,” Neasham told Racing HQ.
“I couldn’t be happier with the horse and I am confident he can improve on what he did the other day. He was obviously unlucky, but that’s racing for you and hopefully he can get a bit of luck this weekend.
“Tommy (Berry, jockey) came and worked him on Saturday and was really happy with him as well.
“This has been set as his grand final. It is all systems go and hopefully we can keep him in one piece and ready to fire on Saturday.”
While pleased with her charge heading into the weekend, Neasham did share a slight concern over the likely heavy track conditions.
“He has been very sound and uncomplicated all prep,” she said. “The only thing with him is he has only had the one start on a heavy track and that was on the Gold Coast as a two-year-old.
“All of his runs since then have been on Good3’s and Good4’s. But he is by Savabeel out of an O’Reilly mare and all the Kiwis tell me they can swim, so he might need to get his flippers on.”
Mo’unga was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Aquis Farm for $325,000.
