Punters will get a taste of The Championships and other Group 1 features as the likes of Anamoe, Icebath, Mo’Unga and El Bodegon line up on official trials over 900 metres at Warwick Farm on Monday morning.
Annabel Neasham’s Mo’Unga snared second placing in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5 behind Icebath in a run that Tommy Berry reported to stewards that was interrupted on the home turn and went untested for a crucial 150 metres in the run to the line.
While it is a matter of what could have been for the five-year-old on that day, Neasham will be happy to see 2021 Winx Stakes (1400m) winner go around well, but not necessarily be an eye-catcher before a likely return in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on February 11.
“He’s very soft,” Neasham said after spending the week at the Magic Millions sales where she was a part of purchasing 24 yearlings, two of which reached $700,000.
“It’ll be a leg stretcher around the back (of the course) and he’ll be on the bridle.”
Adding that Mo’Unga ‘never trials well’ is certainly a portent for more to come especially in races where more room is afforded to him in the run as Berry stated was required back in November.
Mo’Unga will go around in the second trial of the morning.
Further into February, Mo’Unga is rated an $11 chance for the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on February 25 with Anamoe favourite at $3.50 with unibet.
