The immediate aim for Monegal this preparation was the Bega Cup with her program carefully mapped out to head there 3rd up.
She resumed at Kembla on the 11th January where she missed the start but worked home well, doing her best work late over 1200m to only be beaten just under 3 lengths.
Vega then lined up in a Benchmark 78 over 1400m at Randwick on the 25th January. From a wide barrier she went back and produced one of the quickest sectionals of the day running home in 33.32 seconds for the final 600m. Whilst finishing 6th, it was an eye catching effort that set her up perfectly for a tilt at the Bega Cup.
Things didn’t exactly go to plan in the run with Vega missing the start and ending up in an awkward position just worse than mid field on the fence. Brock Ryan and Vega had to bullock their way out in the straight, taking a narrow gap. However once Vega saw daylight, she showed her customary turn of foot and exploded away under hands and heels to claim the Cup.
This was only our second every runner in the Cup, with Titaness running out of her skin last year to finish 4th as one of the outsiders in the field.
A big congratulations to a fantastic group of owners and I’m sure there is more success in store for this lightly raced mare that just loves to race.
Monegal is another example of one of our bargain Scone Yearling purchases. Having been selected and purchased at the 2017 yearling sale for just $3000 dollars, she is now a 5 time winner including a city win and over $165,000 in prizemoney)!