An encouraging workout alongside one of Australia’s premier weight-for-age gallopers has Nick Ryan excited about Munhamek’s prospects of extending his winning streak this Saturday.
The nine-year-old will chase a fourth-straight win in the $300,000 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
It will be Munhamek’s first outing since the Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 6, which was the 13th run of the campaign, but Ryan was delighted to see him cruise home alongside Mr Brightside in an 800m Flemington jumpout last Monday.
“He’s had a little freshen, he had a week down at Fulmen Park and he certainly hasn’t gone backwards,” Ryan said.
“He jumped out alongside Mr Brightside in a pretty good heat and went super, so I’m really looking forward to the P B Lawrence.
“I think I’ve got him going as good as ever.”
Munhamek was one of 15 entries for Victoria’s first Group 2 race of the season, which includes the resuming Pericles, Pinstriped, Buckaroo and Buffalo River among the nominations.
Ryan will this weekend look to go one better than four years ago, when he prepared Sircconi to finish a narrow second in the Lawrence Stakes after winning the Winter Championship Final.
“It’s the same path we took with Sircconi, he went to the P B Lawrence and just got rolled – Savatiano beat him on the line – but we’re taking in that residual fitness out of the winter,” he said.
“It’s a nice race for him.”
Munhamek, who started his career in England and came to Australia via Hong Kong, will be lining up for start No 63 on Saturday in a career that as generated 13 wins and a tick over $2.5m in stakes.
The Lawrence Stakes is the feature event of a Caulfield card that also features the Vain Stakes and Quezette Stakes, both 1100m Group 3 events for three-year-olds carrying $200,000 in stakes, and the $175,000 Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m).