Moonlight Bay surprises with win

Moonlight Bay surprised both punters and her owner with a powerful first up run to win the $100,000 Prince of Wales Hotel AHA Cup (2019m) at the Bunbury Turf Club on Sunday.

The six-year-old mare’s last competitive outing was in the Perth Cup at the start of the year where she ran a three and a half length eighth to Black Tycoon after fading from fourth at the final turn.

There was no such capitulation on Sunday, the $16 outsider again turning fourth, but this time charging down the straight to claim victory by half a length from race pace-setter Cyber Crime ($10) and Coup Acclaim ($18) in third.

Race favourite Pop Culture ($4.40) finished ninth while Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon ($10) was seventh.

Moonlight Bay’s owner Bob Peters said the horse had been prepared by Karnup trainer Grant Williams with the Bunbury Cup in mind and that he had not forecast a victory at the weekend.

“She was there to win if she could but after spending a couple of months in the paddock I thought she would need at least one run to get back into form, ” he said.

“She likes the distance and she likes the give in the ground at the Bunbury track.

“Glenn Smith also rode her beautifully and she had a good barrier draw which definitely helped.”

The mare’s victory was dampened when she pulled up lame in her hind leg after the race but Peters said he remained confident she would be back in Bunbury for the Cup on Thursday March 13.

“She’s got some time to recover and provided she is well she will go around again for the Bunbury Cup and then we’ll think about entering the Pinjarra Cup at the end of March as well, ” he said.

In other action on the day Chorus Boy ($10) came from ninth at the turn to beat favourites Closing Time ($3.50) and Secret Times ($3.20) in the Lion Handicap (1410m).

Trainer Darryn Pateman also enjoyed success with That’s The Way ($11) beating Ninu Yarada ($3.40) and Gold Flight ($5.50) in the ATA Handicap (1690m