Mo’unga Delivers Trainer Neasham First Group 1 Win

After an unlucky second in the Mostyn Copper Randwick Guineas (G1) a fortnight earlier, Mo'unga once again chartered a chequered path to the post through the Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (G1) field, however he proved too good on this occasion, defeating Sky Lab, the first Australian-bred group 1 runner for one-season Arrowfield shuttler Real Impact, by a head. Montefilia finished third, a length off the winner.

The result delivered a first group 1 victory in the fledgling career of Warwick Farm trainer Annabel Neasham, who took out a training license just eight months ago, as well as a 23rd individual group 1 winner for his sire Savabeel, who added another elite-level winner to his name for the second consecutive week after Amarelinha's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (G1) win a week ago.

However, at one stage it looked unlikely, as jockey Tommy Berry settled in the latter half of the field on the colt from barrier 6, before taking a wide route into the straight and getting the better of Sky Lab down the center of the track.

"I can't believe it, I'm a bit speechless to be honest," said an emotional Neasham. "I was a bit worried in the run, he's always a horse that's around midfield but I thought he might end up a pair further forward than he actually was, and I was worried he was spotting the leader way too far. 

"He (Tommy Berry) knew what was sitting on. That straight took a long time to watch, but it's unbelievable. 

Mo'unga races in the colors of Aquis Farm, who have been strong supporters of Neasham, who through Equation gave Neasham a first stakes win in the Iron Jack Canberra Guineas. 

"I just can't thank the Fung family enough. It's just unreal that they've given me the opportunity to train horses like this. 

"He came to us beautifully produced so it was just up to us to get the job done and the team at home have done a marvellous job.

"You dream of these moments and winning these races, he's an incredible horse."

The Canungra-based stud operation announced a change of approach earlier this month, choosing to retain their interests in stallions and focusing on their on-track stallion prospects, of which the Savabeel colt stands out, who follows Castelvecchio, The Autumn Sun, and D'Argento as a winner of the Rosehill Guineas.

Neasham said she'd let the dust settle before determining whether she'd progress the colt to the Australian Derby (G1) or be freshened for the Doncaster Mile (G1).

Mo'unga, who was purchased by Aquis out of the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale for NZ$325,000 (US$222,008) from the Waikato Stud draft, is the second of two foals to race out of the group 3 placegetter Chandelier (O'Reilly), a sister NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (G2) and Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (G3) winner Irlanda.

The mare's last five foals have been by Savabeel. She also has a weanling filly by the stallion, and she was put in foal within the first book of Super Seth last year. 

Verry Elleegant Turns Tables on Addeybb

It was a rematch a year in the making and one that duly delivered a head-to-head clash of titans that was certainly worthy of the anticipation. But, after being twice beaten by William Haggas's British raider 12 months ago, Verry Elleegant exacted revenge over Addeybb in a gruelling duel stretching the Rosehill straight to claim the Ranvet Stakes (G1), an eighth elite-level win for the Kiwi mare.

In shades of the 2020 running of the race, Verry Elleegant under James McDonald loomed up on the outside of a scrubbed along Addeybb for Tom Marquand turning the bend. However, in dispelling memories of that half-length defeat, the Chris Waller-trained 5-year-old mare found too much for the battling European, with the winning margin a length at the post. Harrolds Australian Derby winner Angel Of Truth stayed on for third, 1 3/4 lengths from the winner.

McDonald, who was winning his 49th group 1 race in the saddle, lauded the contest between the pair.

"I haven't had that much fun on a racecourse in a long time," said McDonald. "It was so much fun. She began like an Oakleigh Plater, I was so pleased with her.

"She traveled a little stronger than I wanted to, but the pace was just nice. When I got off at the 600 (meters), I said 'he's going to have to be good today.'"

The jockey held memories from last year at the forefront of his mind as felt the pressure of Addeybb rounding the turn, however Verry Elleegant rallied to his every urgings.

"He (Addeybb) was under the Goddamn pump last time, too. Halfway up, I could feel her at the top (of the straight) and he was still there and I'm thinking 'oh no, not again,' but she's just a wonderful mare, great determination, and a fantastic will to win and she knows where that winning line is. She's a mighty mare.

"She can win over seven (furlongs) and over a mile and a half. She's a beauty."

A group 1 winner at 3, 4, and 5, across distances from 1,400 meters to 2,400 meters, Verry Elleegant continues a rich trend of high-class New Zealand mares, following the lead of Melody Belle who surpassed the group 1 record of Sunline with a 14th success at the highest level a week ago, and connections will further mull over the prospect mooted this week of lining up in Europe's premier middle distance feature, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in October, having defeated one of the Northern Hemisphere's best on home turf.

"She's a great horse. It's always hard to gauge when you're racing against horses from the other side of the world," said winning trainer Chris Waller.

"She's won a Caulfield Cup (G1), with international form, and she's brought it to Rosehill today.

"It's pretty special to be training these horses. She loves a fight."

We won't have long to wait for the fourth match up between the pair, as the duo head for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in two weeks' time.

Parker Lives Dream All Over Again

Almost three years after landing his first group 1 win with Dark Dream, experienced trainer Kerry Parker earned his second as Think It Over burst from the pack under Glen Boss to win the George Ryder Stakes (G1) and book his place in the Doncaster Mile April 10. 

The son of So You Think won the Yulong Australia Craven Plate (G3) and Quayclean Liverpool City Cup (G3) at odds of 16-1 and 50-1, and for his first win at the highest level he returned a $26 chance, as he defeated Dreamforce on the rail and the unfortunate Avilius, who found clear air too late in the run. 

"I'm glad you guys are slow to learn, some of the prices have been nice," said Parker in the aftermath of the race. "It's absolutely terrific, and just a gun ride from Bossy today who took all the shortcuts again.

"Coming into today, I just needed him to run well and if he's a couple of lengths off them taking seven kilos off into the Doncaster I'd be thrilled. But to win it is sensational.

"He's improved a lot and he's very professional now. He knows what he's here for and he turns up on race day and it's all business."

Parker won the Channel Seven Queensland Derby (G1) with Dark Dream, before the horse was taken off him in acrimonious circumstances and later sold to Hong Kong to continue his career and the trainer has reveled in having another high-class recruit emerge within ranks, who will now head to the Doncaster as 'a live chance' according to his trainer, after securing his sixth win from his 23rd start.

"It's been a great ride with this bloke. To watch him mature and turn into the racehorse he has, it's just been very pleasurable.

"We were sitting borderline in 20th or 21st (in the Doncaster order of entry), and whatever wins the Prelude jumps me, so I was hoping we'd get in, we need a few to fall away. That was always his aim. Randwick on the big track, you go into it being a live chance."

A homebred for Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, 5-year-old Think It Over is out of the unraced Personal Service (Zabeel), a half sister to group 1-winning siblings Universal Prince and Universal Queen. He is also from the family of recent Coolmore Classic (G1) Krone.

Personal Service is the dam of four foals to race, with Think It Over the best performed after being purchased for AU$340,000 ($256,700) from the 2006 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale. She has a yearling and weanling colt by Exosphere.