Wild Planet lands the Moonga Stakes

The Moonga Stakes, run each year since 1988 over 1400 metres at Caulfield, has been won by some very, very good horses, among them Vo Rogue, Rough Habit, Flavour, Assertive Lad, Thorn Park, Boban & Lucky Hussler.

But until yesterday, there wasn’t an Arrowfield-connected winner on the race’s honour roll.

Inglis Easter graduate Wild Planet put that right when he won a stern battle over the final 150 metres with Snitzel’s resolute son Morrissy in this year’s $200,000 renewal of the Group 3 contest.

What a finish! Wild Planet produced a big finish to beat Morrissy on the post. pic.twitter.com/KmxuPjyCWH

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 17, 2020

Jockey Hugh Bowman said, “It was a good win, the speed suited me. He didn’t have the best of luck in the Epsom. He’s got lovely form over the 1400 too and a good draw helped, a beautiful run.

“He galloped along at a really nice rhythm and he was always going to quicken off it.”

Bred in partnership with Planette Thoroughbred, the 5YO gelding was a $280,000 purchase for trainers Hawkes Racing & agent Andrew Williams Bloodstock from Arrowfield’s 2017 Inglis Easter draft. He carries the familiar navy blue & gold lightning bolt silks of Rupert & Cheryl Legh whose fellow owners include B & C Thoroughbreds, Michael Ramsden’s Gurners Bloodstock & Jenny Hawkes.

Wild Planet’s prizemoney totals $746,000 from six wins and six placings in a 19-run career that has progressed from three Listed wins at three and four, to a pair of Group successes this Spring.  

He is one of Animal Kingdom’s 12 worldwide stakeswinners and a half-brother to Caulfield Guineas G1 winner Super Seth. Their dam Salutations (by Redoute’s Choice) has a yearling colt by Dundeel, and is due to foal again to Dundeel this month.

Super Seth and Wild Planet are among Arrowfield’s 18 Group-winning Inglis Easter graduates since 2014, a list headed by Champion 2YO Estijaab & Champion 3YO Colt The Autumn Sun.