Meeska Mooska
Race Images Palmerston North
A bold front-running performance to score a fresh up victory at Hastings on Saturday has booked a return visit to the venue next month for underrated stayer Meeska Mooska.
The six-year-old El Hermano gelding came into Saturday's contest off the back of a winning hat-trick over the winter months however he was relatively ignored by punters who let him start the Westbury Stud Mile at better than $11 on the tote.
Ridden confidently by apprentice Anna Jones the gelding bowled along strongly at the head of affairs throughout the contest. After slipping clear on the point of the home bend Meeska Mooska fought doggedly to repel the challenge of race favourite Underthemoonlight, scoring by a short neck at the winning post.
"I expected him to go well as in his previous campaigns he had gone well fresh," admitted co-trainer Graham Thomas who prepares the gelding in partnership with Nick Smith.
"He's just grown and grown and strengthened up tremendously. I was hopeful, you can't say expectant, but I was hopeful."
Thomas was cautiously optimistic about the future prospects for his charge with a return to Hastings on the second day of the three-day spring carnival his next assignment.
"We have to take stock after that but we do have some plans in mind," he advised.
"He's got a nomination for the Livamol which of course is a big ask, but we're most likely to come back here for the open 2000 metre on the middle day."
Rider Anna Jones was equally as pleased with the performance having now guided the gelding to the last four of his six career wins.
"He's something special and I've been so lucky to keep the ride on him," she said.
"He's got such a big stride so he covers the ground really well. If anything I thought we may have gone a bit too hard and he might get caught but he kicks so well off a good tempo that they struggle to catch him."
Meeska Mooska currently lies 35th on the order of entry for the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic that will be run on the 1st of October. – NZ Racing Desk
The six-year-old El Hermano gelding came into Saturday's contest off the back of a winning hat-trick over the winter months however he was relatively ignored by punters who let him start the Westbury Stud Mile at better than $11 on the tote.
Ridden confidently by apprentice Anna Jones the gelding bowled along strongly at the head of affairs throughout the contest. After slipping clear on the point of the home bend Meeska Mooska fought doggedly to repel the challenge of race favourite Underthemoonlight, scoring by a short neck at the winning post.
"I expected him to go well as in his previous campaigns he had gone well fresh," admitted co-trainer Graham Thomas who prepares the gelding in partnership with Nick Smith.
"He's just grown and grown and strengthened up tremendously. I was hopeful, you can't say expectant, but I was hopeful."
Thomas was cautiously optimistic about the future prospects for his charge with a return to Hastings on the second day of the three-day spring carnival his next assignment.
"We have to take stock after that but we do have some plans in mind," he advised.
"He's got a nomination for the Livamol which of course is a big ask, but we're most likely to come back here for the open 2000 metre on the middle day."
Rider Anna Jones was equally as pleased with the performance having now guided the gelding to the last four of his six career wins.
"He's something special and I've been so lucky to keep the ride on him," she said.
"He's got such a big stride so he covers the ground really well. If anything I thought we may have gone a bit too hard and he might get caught but he kicks so well off a good tempo that they struggle to catch him."
Meeska Mooska currently lies 35th on the order of entry for the Gr. 1 Livamol Classic that will be run on the 1st of October. – NZ Racing Desk