Annabel Neasham is still weighing up her options for dual Group One winner Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) but a Cox Plate start remains firmly in the mix.
Mo’unga is enjoying a week in the paddock following his brave fifth in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap and Neasham says she will be monitoring this weekend’s results before making a final decision on whether he heads to the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) or the A$7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m).
She has boom galloper and Cox Plate favourite Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux) in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday and is also keen to see the outcome of the Silver Eagle in Sydney, a race which will be a significant Golden Eagle pointer.
She confirmed she will decide by Monday whether Mo’unga joins Zaaki in Melbourne or remains in Sydney for the A$7.5 million carrot.
“It’s just annoying. I want to run him in both, both are good races for him and there are probably pros and cons for both,” Neasham said on Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.
“The horse is going really, really well and I think he’ll be competitive in either of those races.
“I’m going to try to leave it as late as I can and obviously we’ll see what happens this weekend.
“We’ve got Zaaki in this weekend and we’ve also got the Silver Eagle to look at.”
Neasham believes Mo’unga will hold his own against his high-profile stablemate if she decides to pit them against each other in the Cox Plate.
“If Mo’unga lined up against Zaaki, he’d give him a run for his money,” she said.
“He’s a proper weight-for-age horse, Mo’unga. He’s shown that in the Winx Stakes and backed it up running a very close second to Incentivise.
“He certainly shouldn’t be looked at as a bridesmaid to Zaaki.”
