Mo'unga slick in Waimakariri Businesses Winter Cup

By Mike Love

Mo'unga again showed that he's a pacer going places with an emphatic, and track record-breaking victory, in yesterday's Waimakariri Businesses Winter Cup at Rangiora.

The Bettor's Delight five-year-old overcame a 20m handicap, to win his third Country Cup by an ever increasing four lengths.

In doing so he cut out the 2600 metres in 3:10.7, easily eclipsing Bettors Strike's track rcord (3:11.5) set in 2010.

“It’s great to get the win and to win like that,” says trainer Regan Todd.

Robbie Close got the gelding away safely to sit midfield for the majority of the race. Angling five wide on the turn, Mo’unga showed a dazzling burst of speed to cruise past his rivals and extend to a four length victory over Heza Sport. His final sectionals of 57.0 for 800m and 27.8 for the final 400m shows Mo’unga will be a force to be reckoned with in future feature races.

“He was three weeks between runs, so we were hoping he would get a good run then get trucking. It was a great drive from Robbie.”

Mo’unga has now won seven from fifteen, with over $70,000 in stakes.

“We never got too excited about him. It’s just been a time game with him. Every time he comes up, we just chuck him out and the next time he comes up just that little bit better," says Todd.

His win yesterday follows wins in the Waimate (March 24) and Cheviot Cups (April 7).

“He will go to the Country cups final, then we won’t worry too much after that. He’ll probably have a spell.”

The Country Cups final, worth $110,000, will be held at Addington on May 10.

The Anne Thompson graduation series also kicked off for trotters and pacers with Kevin Townley trotter Edward Longshanks winning the first heat for the trotters for Tim Williams.

Heat two was won by Four Wise Women driven by John Dunn for Craig and Aimee Edmonds.

For the pacers, Pioneer took out the first heat for trainer Kevin McRae with John Morrison steering, while Remission driven by Matthew Williamson earned an overdue maiden victory in heat two for Jamie Gameson.

The finals will be run on May 19 for a stake of $20,000 at Rangiora.