Photo: Masakazu Takahashi
By Ron Mitchell, courtesy BloodHorse.com
Breeding/Auction Notes below by Sarah Mace
Moanin, a New York-bred son of Henny Hughes, unleashed a quick turn of foot at the top of the stretch and continued his momentum for a 1 1/4-length victory in the February Stakes (Jpn-I) at Tokyo Racecourse Feb. 21.
Sent off as the second choice from post position 14 in the 16-horse field, Moanin was ridden by Mirco Demuro in track-record time of 1:34 for the mile on a muddy main track. Moanin tracked the early pace from fourth and fifth until the final turn and was briefly checked at the top of the stretch before unleashing a powerful kick to defeat favored Nokono Yume, who also closed in the lane.
Trained by Sei Ishizaka, Moanin has won six of seven starts, with one third in the Negeshi Stakes (Jpn-III) at Tokyo Racecourse Jan. 31.
“I was aware of his strength and had every confidence in him so I`m truly happy we were able to win,” Demuro said. “The trainer warned me of his bad breaks, but he actually made a good spurt and after we were positioned well, I knew the title was ours. I’m glad that he stretched well in spite of losing concentration a bit after taking the lead rather early in the straight.”
Four-year-old Moanin is owned by Yukio Baba.
The winner was the only non-Japanese-bred runner in the February Stakes, one of 15 graded races on dirt this year in Japan.
Breeding/Auction Notes:
The top New York-bred juvenile offering at the OBS March Selected Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training sale, Moanin was purchased by Narvick International, Agent, from the consignment of Eddie Woods, Agent IX, after working a sharp eighth of a mile in :10 flat.
A pinhooking success story, the April colt was purchased as a yearling by Pete Bradley’s Bradley Thoroughbreds for $90,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Preferred New York-bred sale in Saratoga last summer. Woods reported before the sale, “He’s a lovely colt. He’s been popular.”
Bred by Empire Equines, LLC and foaled at Vinery New York at Sugar Maple in Poughquag, the colt is out of Giggly, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor whose first registered foal, and only foal to start to date, is placed in Japan. His second dam is graded stakes placed, and fourth dam is 1981 Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan winner Dame Mysterieuse (Bold Forbes).
