Backing up after finishing fifth in the Vobis Gold Star at Moonee Valley on Friday night, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Pounding broke an 89-week drought in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Ladbrokes Sale Cup (1600m).
Ridden by Luke Nolen the 6-year-old son of Exceed And Excel enjoyed a cosy run three pairs back on the fence.
Switched to the centre of the track on straightening, Pounding overpowered the game All Too Hard gelding Arran Bay by a half-length, with the pacesetting Flying Artie gelding Coin Toss back in third.
Nolen and Moodie teamed up to win the Sale Cup eighteen years ago with Emerald Jack.
Winning for the first time since the Group III Carlyon Cup at Sandown in February 2023, Pounding advances his record to eight wins, eight seconds, and six thirds from 45 starts with earnings of $1,330,065.
“He’s had 15 runs, this preparation, so obviously we did not have him fit enough on Friday night,” Peter Moody joked.
“He is a stable stalwart; we all love him, and he has been a tremendous horse for Wylie Dalziel, Rosemont Stud, and partners. You call him an enigma, but he has won over $1.3 million. These are the sought of horses owners dream of.
“Kudos to the team. He loves stable life - shoots down to Laurinston Park, who do a great job with him’ He has a little freshen-up, comes back, and we throw a saddle on him to go to the races. There is not a lot of science to it.”
Bred by Rosemont Stud, Pounding failed to make his $120,000 reserve at the National Weanling Sale and again when falling short of his $220,000 reserve at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
He is the best of two winners from four to race for the Beat Hollow mare Silent Entrance (GB), which was sold by Rosemont to Stuart McPhee for $5,000 at the 2021 Inglis July (Early) Online Sale.
A half-sister to Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Promising Lead (Danehill) and the Group III winner and multiple Group 1 placed Visit (Oasis Dream), Silent Entrance (GB) had a filly foal by Blue Point (IRE) sell to Dalziel Bloodstock / Moody Racing for $80,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Exceed And Exel’s triple Group 1 winning son Bivouac covered silent Entrance (GB) in December.
