Mo’unga among 15 Winx Stakes Nominations
Reigning Winx Stakes champion Mo’unga has featured among 15 nominations for Saturday’s Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
The Annabel Neasham-trained son of Savabeel kicked off at the same time last year defeating 2020 Winx Stakes winner Verry Elleegant by a long neck before finishing second to Incentivise in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.
Mo’unga was given one barrier trial before his success in the race last year and has been tuned up with two soft trials in preparation for his title defense.
Of the 14 entries standing in his way, the James Cummings-prepared Anamoe looks most threatening following a soft trial win at Warwick Farm on August 5.
The four-year-old son of Street Boss is one of two entries for Cummings who has also nominated All Aged Stakes (1400m) winner Cascadian.
Cummings’ brother Edward has also nominated his stable star Duais who added the Australian Cup (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m) to her impressive resume last autumn.
Trainer Chris Waller has won five of the past seven renewals of the Winx Stakes (three wins for Winx) and is light on nomination this year with Fangirl and Hinged representing his stable.
2022 Winx Stakes Nominations:
Horse | Trainer | |||
1 | ANAMOE | James Cummings | ||
2 | BENAUD | John O’Shea | ||
3 | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | ||
4 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | ||
5 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | ||
6 | FORBIDDEN LOVE | Michael Freedman | ||
7 | HILAL | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | ||
8 | HINGED | Chris Waller | ||
9 | ICEBATH (NZ) | Brad Widdup | ||
10 | MO’UNGA (NZ) | Annabel Neasham | ||
11 | NIMALEE | Matthew Smith | ||
12 | PROFONDO | Richard Litt | ||
13 | SPECIAL REWARD | Kris Lees | ||
14 | STOCKMAN (NZ) | Joseph Pride | ||
15 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |