Talented winter galloper Amusez Moi capped off some fine recent form with victory in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1650m) at Waverley.
The five-year-old son of Dalghar was having just his fifth run for trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard after returning from a two-year stint in Australia where he won three of his 11 starts after doing his early racing from the Nigel Tiley stable at Pukekohe.
After winning first up over 1400m at Otaki in March, Amusez Moi had been placed in two of his next three starts and went into Saturday’s weight-for-age contest as one of the favoured candidates.
Rider Lisa Allpress had her charge tracking nicely against the rail in midfield before charging to the front at the 600m when the leaders rolled off the fence.
Amusez Moi shot clear rounding the home bend and maintained a strong gallop to the line to defeat race favourite Justaskme by just over two lengths with Secret Amour making up good ground late in the piece for third.
Benner thought his charge would be competitive and was quick to praise the ride by Allpress.
“Lisa summed it up nicely and took the bull by the horns at the 600m which won her the race,” he said.
“He is a horse that has good ability with a good strike rate and he can run time when he wins.
“He isn’t just a mud lark as he has won on better tracks, but I do think it suits him best when he can get his toe in the ground.
“We are going to tip him out for a break now and get him back for the spring.
“With the sort of tracks he could get then, I think he will be competitive in some of the better races with natural improvement.
“He is the stable pet at home and although he has a few quirks, he is a neat horse to have around the stable.”
Bred by Bloomsbury Stud, Amusez Moi is raced by Diane and Dr John Bowbyes and has now won six of his 23 starts and over $131,000 in prize money.
He is the older half-brother of Montre Moi who finished sixth behind Rocket Spade in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in 2021 before being sold to Hong Kong interests. – NZ Racing Desk