Punt Drunk: Incredible Caviar sends tongues wagging at Sale
Group 1 racing returned to our screens (thanks lockdown) over the weekend, with Mo’unga proving too hard to hold out in the concluding stages of the Winx Stakes. Throw in an Incredible win at Sale on Sunday and the literal plethora of options in front of NSW jockey Tommy Berry, and it’s a stacked Monday edition of Punt Drunk.
Mo’unga collects another Group 1 win
Having taken out the Rosehill Guineas in March this year, the Annabel Neasham-trained Mo’unga brought up his second Group 1 win in his six goes when taking out the Winx Stakes over the weekend. The boom horse came over the top of Verry Elleegant in a dramatic finish to the first Group 1 of the season. With a win in the Cox Plate the main goal for Verry Elleegant, it was no real surprise that the superstar mare found 1400m a touch too sharp.
However, it was all credit to Mo’unga, who stamped his claim as one of the horses to watch throughout the upcoming Spring Carnival in Melbourne, where he holds nominations for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. If that is the standard of Group 1 races we get all season, there will be next to no complaints from the Punt Drunk team! Bring on the Memsie Stakes this weekend.
Incredible Caviar breaks maiden
The Sale races on a Sunday is hardly a marquee event, but when Black Caviar has progeny going around, you can bet there will be plenty watching. The great Peter Moody sent out Incredible Caviar as a $1.40 favourite, and she went on to win like an odds-on pop should. She may not scale anything like the heights her mother got to, but having won under hands and heels from Jamie Kah, it could be a big spring for Incredible Caviar.
Imagine the scenes if Moody snares a Group 1 with the daughter of the GOAT? Let’s hope we are out of lockdown by then, because that is a party we want to be a part of!
Berry spoilt for choice in The Everest
The Everest is clearly the marquee event in Sydney each year, and any jockey worth their salt wants a ride in the $15 million race. Tommy Berry is yet to win the Rosehill feature, but this year he has more options than you could dream of in terms of available rides. He will almost certainly be the jockey if Masked Crusader heads to The Everest, but he also has the option of Stay Inside if connections opt to go that way. Meanwhile, the ride on Rothfire is still yet to be decided, with Berry firmly in the thoughts of connections.
That’s three genuine Group 1 stars, and despite Nature Strip and Classique Legend dominating the market two months out, Berry will certainly be confident heading into the richest race in the country.
Monday Racing Tips – August 23, 2021
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