Mangonui In Comeback Win
- Saturday, 24 July 2010 07:15
The decision to bring rising eight-year-old Mangonui out of retirement has proved a winner with the gelding scoring at his second start back at Moonee Valley.
Mangonui's career looked over when his previous owner, fearing that the rating system was working against the gelding, decided to draw the curtain after five wins in 25 starts.
But only a few months after his farewell run in November, Mangonui returned to his Sale trainer Ian Hutchins thanks to a long-time friend deciding to put a syndicate together to revive the galloper's career.
"The thing was that with his rating there weren't the races around for him and the owner got very worried and decided to retire him," Hutchins said.
"He was up there in the paddock and my best mate Gary Parkinson grabbed him and put a syndicate together.
"The horse has had two starts for a second and a win here so it has been worth it."
Craig Williams, who recently returned from a stint in Japan, landed his second city double for the week when Mangonui finished strongly to win the Chris Hood Memorial Handicap (1200m) in a blanket finish.
He beat off Signor Socks to score by a short head with Sacred Orders a short half-head away third.
Williams won earlier in the day on Diazling.
Hutchins said Mangonui, who is the first city winner for his new connections, still had plenty of racing ahead of him despite his age.
"He's by Kingston Rule and they take time and get better with age," Hutchins said.
Williams positioned Mangonui midfield and made his winning move in the straight.
"It is not the way to ride the horse but it was the way to win today's race," Williams said.
"He is good and tough and when I asked him to do some chasing work he kept going strong to the wire."
Williams picked up the ride on Mangonui, replacing regular rider Peter Hutchinson who was injured during the week.
