Mo'Unga Gifts Neasham First Group 1 Win

The win by kiwi-bred 3YO colt Mo’unga (Savabeel-Chandelier, by O’Reilly) in the Gr1 Rosehill Guineas provided a first elite win for trainer Annabel Neasham who was only granted her trainer’s licence at the start of this season, reports racingnews.co.nz. “He’s always a horse that is sort of mid-field and I thought he might end up a pair further forward than he was,” Neasham said. “I was worried that he was spotting the leader way too far, but Tommy knew what he was sitting on. But that straight took a long time to watch.” Ridden by Tommy Berry, Mo’unga is the twenty-third Group 1 winner for his sire Savabeel (Zabeel-Savannah Success, by Success Express). “To be in her first year of training and to put up with that sort of pressure is incredible,” Berry said. “She’s such a good person to work with. My father is foreman for Annabel as well, so well done dad, and I know he does a lot of work with this horse.” Mo’unga won his first three races in succession, then missed in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas before a short spell. Back this autumn, he finished third in the Gr3 CS Hayes Stakes, second in the Gr1 Randwick Guineas, and now this win to bring his record to four wins from seven starts and sets up a potential clash with Gr1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock-Affairoftheheart, by Fusaichi Pegasus) in the Gr1 Australian Derby. Mo’unga was sold by Waikato Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $325,000 to Aquis Farm. All Black Richie Mo’unga, who the colt is named after, has a small shareholding in the 3YO colt and donates his share of prizemoney to charity. The Savabeel/O’Reilly cross has to date produced an incredible 14% stakes-winners to runners.

Mo'Unga provided Neasham with her first Group 1 winner (pic: Steve Hart)