Trainer Shankar Muniandy has sights set high at Wingatui’s $1m meeting

Loose Sally is a class mare but will carry 59.5kg at Wingatui tomorrow. Photo / Monica Toretto

Wingatui trainer Shankar Muniandy has made the Dunedin Guineas his own in recent years.

And while he won’t get the opportunity to extend his record in the race at his local meeting on Saturday, he will be chasing some lucrative prize money on offer with a former winner.

Muniandy won the Guineas two years ago with Collect Your Cash before doubling his tally last year with Loose Sally, and the latter will seek to continue her winning ways on Classics Day when she contests the $200,000 ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m).

A standout for Muniandy as a 3-year-old, Loose Sally was also victorious in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) and placed in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) last season.

She returned with the same vigour as a 4-year-old, posting three consecutive victories and TAB bookmakers have installed her as a $4 favourite for Saturday’s rich mile.

Muniandy has been rapt with her progression before Saturday and is confident of another bold showing.

“She is really well, she galloped on Wednesday and was outstanding,” he said. “She is in good form and hopefully everything goes her way.”

Muniandy’s brother, apprentice jockey Ruvanesh Muniandy, will be in the saddle once again, with his 2kg claim bringing Loose Sally’s allocated weight down to 59.5kg.

“She won with 59.5kg last start and after the claim she is going to carry the same weight again this week,” Muniandy said. “She is a big girl, she can handle it.”

Loose Sally will be joined in the race by stablemate Perfect Tycoon, who has also won his last three starts.

While Muniandy fears he has risen through the grades too quickly, he is looking forward to the 4-year-old gelding chasing the riches on offer on his home track.

“He has learned how to be a racehorse now,” Muniandy said. “He is still a pretty young horse, and everything has come a bit too soon for him, but he is right up there in the points so we might as well give him a chance.”

Muniandy will also be represented at the meeting by Acesanjacks and Sabots D’or in the Speights 1600.

“We put Acesanjacks in the mile because 1400m is too short for him,” Muniandy said.

“Every time he runs into the race nicely and then just can’t finish it off in the last 200m, they are a bit too quick for him.

“We are stepping him up in distance, he has drawn a good alley [1] and he won’t disgrace himself.

“Sabots D’Or has been really disappointing. She put in one good one and three bad ones. I will take the blinkers off this week to do something different and see if she can run on.”

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk