Qualifying German import Mawingo for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups is now a priority after his stunning Australian debut at Flemington.
Trainer Anthony Freedman said he would scan racing calendars in search of suitable races with Sydney’s Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 28 already high on the list of possible targets.
“I am mindful of getting him qualified and would like to do that this prep if we can,” Freedman said.
The four-year-old arrived in Australia 10 weeks ago after winning two of his seven starts in Germany and Italy.
Australian Bloodstock bought Mawingo specifically for the Cups and with a group of other owners he races in the same colours as Lucas Cranach who finished third for them in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
Mawingo’s career includes a fourth in the German Derby (2400m) and last-start fifth in Rome’s Group One Premio Roma (2000m).
Freedman said he was still learning about the entire and was impressed with how well he finished off to win Saturday’s Muscular Dystrophy Australia Plate (1600m) after being midfield and wide throughout the event.
“I was really pleased with his tactical speed,” Freedman said.
“Obviously he can race anywhere in a field and that’s going to augur well for the future.
“He really wasn’t closer than three deep so it is pretty good effort to front up here after getting off the plane 10 weeks ago.”
Freedman acknowledged Australian Bloodstock’s analytical work searching for the right Cup horse and believes they have again found a genuine contender.
“On the back of Lucas Cranach, German form is now accepted and form around this horse is particularly strong since they bought him,” Freedman said.
“He’s got great acceleration and that is what you need these days to win big staying races.”
Jockey Daniel Moor said he was content to race wide on Mawingo because he was comfortable and striding freely.
“He was in a rhythm and in the zone,” Moor said.
He said Mawingo was a “a dork” the way he likes to look around in his trials and track gallops but was surprised with how he switched on mid-race although he was stargazing when he hit the lead in the home straight.
“He got to the front too soon and had a real good look around, but if something had come at him he would have really powered away,” he said.
Freedman said Mawingo had already struck him as different type of horse to Lucas Cranach who “sits at the back and swamps them”.
“This horse has better tactical speed,” Freedman said.
Mawingo was as much as $5 during the week but after drifting on track from $2.25 to $2.80 scored by two lengths from Eraset and Booklet who was ridden by comeback jockey Darren Gauci.
