Queen Elizabeth start to be decided by trainer after she rides colt in trackwork

Trainer Annabel Neasham is going to take matters into her own hands to determine whether star colt Mo’unga lines up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Neasham revealed she intends riding Mo’unga trackwork herself at Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning before deciding if the three-year-old takes on the older champs in the $4 million weight-for-age race.

Mo’unga, winner of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas earlier this autumn, ran only 10th behind Cascadian in the Doncaster Mile last Saturday but has pulled up so well after the race he has given the trainer reason to consider a Queen Elizabeth start.

“The way he has come through the Doncaster you wouldn’t know he went around,’’ Neasham said.

“He was very fresh going into that race and ran like he needed 2000m. With the dry conditions and the way he has pulled up it is a temptation to run again.

“I will ride him in the morning and see how he feels. Maybe we will accept and go there if we are happy with the horse through the week and if we are not he will go to the paddock.’’

Mo’unga powers home to win the Rosehill Guineas. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images for the ATCSource:Getty Images

The final fields and barrier draws for all four Group 1 races for Day Two of The Championships will be determined on Tuesday morning.

Neasham said Tommy Berry is on standby to ride Mo’unga and she is also flirting with the idea of backing up with Zaaki in the Queen Elizabeth after the former English galloper ran a blinder at his Australian debut when sixth in the Doncaster.

“I’m going to see how Zaaki is in the morning,’’ she said.

“Zaaki and Mo’unga went to the beach Sunday morning then went straight out to the paddock for two days. They are bucking their brands off.

“But I would say Zaaki is unlikely to race on Saturday this early into his campaign. It would be a big ask to back up. I want to look after him as he is going to be a very good horse.

“It was a huge run in the Doncaster. If he had drawn a gate and was a bit closer, I’m not saying he would have won but he might have finished in a three (placings).’’

Neasham said Zaaki is more likely to be saved for a Queensland winter carnival campaign and races like the Doomben Cup and Q22.

Originally published asTrainer will ride Mo’unga then make big-race call

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