Despite racing first up, from a spell, Moneghetti (Glenn Smith) proved too strong in the York Stakes powering home to run down Rebelson and Miss Tipsy Topsy, in a tight finish to the 1600m race, at Belmont on May 4.
Moneghetti had been disappointing in his last two runs in February and in the Bunbury Stakes on March 10.
However WA Derby winning trainer Grant Williams produced a fresher product this time in and indeed presented ‘Tasmania’s finest,’ Glenn Smith, with a handful of horse early in the race with Smith having to work to get him to concentrate and relax at the rear of the field.
Tracking Rebelson (Jarrad Noske) on the home turn Smith tracked that horse before issuing the challenge to him after that galloper took the lead.
There were odds of $31 offered early for Moneghetti, before firming to $22 for the win.
Only a long head separated them and Rebelson fought it right out. However, the three year old has had a tough campaign, including running over the last three weeks at distances ranging from 2400m, 1800m and 1600m respectively.
Moneghetti has now won 8 races from 30 starts and this victory in a race run since 1901 was the son of Blackfriars second listed race success.
He joins a list of quality gallopers that have won the race before going on to bigger success, including, Welcome Knight, Forge On, Luna Tudor, Blevvo and last year’s winner, Mabel Grace.
A FAITHFUL RIDE: Veteran trainer Don Daniels can congratulate young apprentice Natasha Faithfull for the win on Times Are Changing in the Amelia Park Lamb Handicap (1200m).
Faithfull had the gelding away from the outside barrier (15) like the proverbial scalded cat, opening up a three length lead within a short distance before throttling back.
Darci Time (Smith) finished on well to press the winner to a long neck but the ‘bird had already flown’- again- on the home turn.
Daniels said his charge was a lovely horse to handle and had recovered from an earlier bout of laminitis.
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