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An international owner made his presence felt at the Wellington Cup carnival with a first feature race victory in New Zealand.
The colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum were carried to victory by the Stephen McKee-trained Moozoon in the Gr.3 Tiger Prawn Desert Gold Stakes on Saturday.
The Sheikh is a part-owner of the filly’s sire Perfectly Ready, who stands at Brighthill Farm where his thoroughbred interests are based. His former Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup winner Eagle Mountain also retired there, but unfortunately his time at stud was limited due to fertility issues.
The member of Dubai’s royal family is also the owner of the unbeaten New Zealand-bred Rumya, who was raised at Nick and Anne-Marie King’s Waikato stud. She was subsequently sent to South African trainer Mike De Kock, who prepared her to win the Gr.1 Cape Fillies’ Guineas and the Gr.1 Greyville Golden Slipper.
The Sheikh’s latest Kiwi star Moozoon has now won three times from seven appearances and a record that could, and perhaps should, make better reading.
“She’s well-remembered for dropping Sam (Spratt) and she should have won that day too,” McKee said.
“She’s a really good filly with a good turn of foot and Tim Stakemire is out here for Karaka so I’ll have a chat with him and see where we are headed with her.”
Stakemire is the Melbourne-based racing manager for the Sheikh, who has more than 100 horses in work around the world.
Out of a Montjeu mare, Moozoon sat one off the fence near the pace and was driven to the front by rider Mark Sweeney 200 metres from home and she stayed on strongly to defeat Miss Selby. The favourite Costa Viva settled at the back and ran on well without threatening the first two home.