Legendary English trainer Willie Haggas has done it again.
He has brought a horse, an unheralded horse to Australia, and produced him first-up over 2400m at stakes level…and it won!
We saw him do it with Young Rascal last year.
And he’s done it again with FAVOURITE MOON (Sea The Moon – Favorite) who carried the bottom weight, railed the whole way and outstayed them all winning the Gr 3 Manion Cup.
In doing so he has burst to favouritism for he upcoming Gr 1 Sydney Cup in April. Favourite Moon is now $8.00 but this race has also produced the Sydney Cup 2nd favourite in the mare REALM OF FLOWERS ( So You Think – Astral Flowers) who should have won this race today.
She sat three wide all the way and should have dropped out to finish near last, instead she showed her superior staying talent when she ran home hard taking ground off the winner late and failing by a neck. She was ridden by Damien Thornton, not one of his best.
Third home was SACRAMENTO (Pierro – Alzora) who was ridden off the speed today and hit the line yard after stablemate Hush Writer had set a blazing tempo.
Realm Of Flowers is now a $9 chance to win the Sydney Cup with Sportsbet.
Kerrin McEvoy rode the winner. “He is a different racehorse on race day,” he said. “I rode him at wok the other day and my legs were aching at the end because he gives you nothing but I think he will improve over more ground.
“He is getting better as he races more.”
