Sydney Preview: Mo'unga can win his second Winx Stakes

With TwinSpires offering its Rest Of The World Bet Back every Friday night on all races from Sydney, Edge will be analyzing at least one race on the card each week.

Australia’s first Group 1 race of the season is the 1,400-meter (about 7-furlong) Winx Stakes, named after the champion mare that won the race three times. Previously known as the Warwick Stakes, there have been 13 horses that have won the race more than once, including two other three-time winners, Kingston Town and Limerick.

It would be no surprise if there is a 14th name on the multiple winner list after this year’s edition, as the high-class #1 Mo’unga could easily take this out.

The New Zealand-bred Mo’unga, named after high-class New Zealand rugby player Richie Mo’unga, beat 10-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant in this race last year. He has a great record when running first-up from a break, and should get a good run from barrier two.

The likely favorite is #3 Anamoe, last season’s best Australian three-year-old past sprint distances. He is likely to be highly competitive, but he may be more vulnerable first-up than Mo’unga.

#8 Forbidden Love would be a very strong contender if she runs to her Group 1-winning form from earlier this year. However, her first-up sixth in the Missile Stakes was a shade disappointing, and she may need heavy ground to be at her best.

A stronger contender may be #10 Fangirl, who was one of the better three-year-old fillies last season. She is competitive at the 1,400-meter distance and will be happiest if the rain stays away.

#9 Icebath normally runs well at Randwick and should be competitive here, while #7 Duais and #11 Hinged are other potentials for exotics.

• $10 win/$30 place: #1 Mo’unga ($40)
• $1 trifecta: 1, 3 with 1, 3, 10 with 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ($20)

Bonus play – New Zealand

Ruakaka, Race 7: Open Handicap, 1,400 meters

• $10 win/$20 place, #4 Markus Aurelius: The Group 2 winner looks like the third-stringer from his stable, but he is well weighted and can surprise.