It was only two years ago but Munhamek’s victory in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final seems a lifetime ago.
Nick Ryan’s stable stalwart was eight when he achieved the Flemington feat and he’ll be looking to emulate that with another eight-year-old this Saturday when Highlights lines up.
Both horses came to Ryan from different beginnings – Munhamek from Hong Kong and Highlights from the Guy stable in Queensland and more recently Bjorn Baker in Sydney, and both have used the David Bourke Handicap (1620m) as their lead in run.
Highlights put in his best run for the new yard in the David Bourke when finishing third, beaten a head by Seafall, and Ryan said it had been a learning process with the stable acquisition.
“His form with me has been a little bit patchy, but he’s had excuses every time he’s run badly,” Ryan said.
“He looked the winner the other day, and he’s come through the run well, so no doubt we’ll head to the final on Saturday.”
“He’s very structurally good, he’s a little bit quirky… he trialled well nude with no gear on at Werribee so we just stripped everything back, left the tongue tie on, but I think it certainly helped.”
The David Bourke has been the right form for the Winter Championship Series Final in recent years with Jimmy The Bear replicating Munhamek by doing the double last year, as did Tuvalu in 2022.
“I did it with Munhamek, he won that race and went on to win the final so it’s generally the right way to go,” Ryan said.
“Like I said, his form does look patchy but he’s had excuses every time. Hopefully he’ll improve off that run and be a lightweight chance in the final.”
