Many engaged in Saturday’s Winter Championship Final are wondering how they turn the tables on Munhamek, but Peter Moody is looking to Pounding’s last battle with him for confidence in his chances in the $200,000 Listed event.
That was over 1600 metres at Caulfield on June 1, a day that Munhamek hogged most of the hard-luck headlines after finishing a 1-1/4-length fifth when held up for much of the straight.
But, as Moody pointed out, Pounding encountered a similarly chequered passage when third, beaten less than a length.
“The last time we met the favourite, he (Pounding) was unlucky and so was Munhamek,” Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, said.
“He’s good enough to win this type of race, but he’s one of those horses that everything’s got to fall into place.”
After the Caulfield run, Pounding stepped up to 1800m, finishing second to Cadmus at Sandown on June 15, and while Moody said he was ready to step up to 2000m he was keen to head to Flemington in the hope of striking the driest surface possible.
“He was ready for the 2000, so we’ve just played with him a little bit this week and just ticked him over at a mile,” Moody said.
“He’s been wonderfully consistent throughout his career, it’s just that wet tracks have hampered him.
“We just want a firm deck, which Flemington usually presents.
“He’s drawn five, so he should get a nice, sweet run and hopefully he gets his chance.”
Only one of Pounding’s seven career wins have come at Flemington, but it is the scene of his career-best performance – a third placing in last year’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), won by Cascadian.
Pounding, who will be ridden by Luke Nolen, is the $6 second favourite in Winter Championship betting behind Munhamek ($4.80).