MUNZ’S INTEREST REKINDLED

Congratulations to SHARKBITE’s owner/breeder, Jonathan Munz, who struck with another homebred yesterday when Rekindled Interest, rekindled plenty of interest in next Saturday’s Victoria Derby-G1.
ANZ Bloodstock News takes up the story:

Johnathan Munz has invested millions into racing and he looks
to have a smart horse on his hands after Rekindled Interest
(Redoute’s Choice) stamped himself a genuine Victoria Derby
(Gr 1, 2500m) contender next week with a well deserved win in
the $200,000 Moonee Valley Vase (Gr 2, 2040).
The Jim Conlan trainee has been luckless in most of his races this preparation but he clearly appreciated the step up to 2000m and he came with a sweeping run from the 600m to first reach the lead turning in and then quickening up again to go clear, eventually defeating longtime leader and a very game Lion Tamer (Storming Home) by two and a half lengths.
Conlon confirmed afterwards that Rekindled Interest will back up
at Flemington next week. “It’s a week away and hopefully he does
well this week. So long as he does this week we’ll be there.”
“Today I said to Dwayne, just be positive, (put him) where he’s
comfortable and I’m sure he’ll hit the line. He’s got a very stout
pedigree on the mare’s side.”
“He’s got a decent heart and a good set of lungs. The last week
he seems to have really just blossomed,” Conlan continued.
“He’s had a really wonderful week this week, had a nice gallop on
Tuesday at Mornington and from there you really saw the horse
starting to hold his condition.”
Referring to Rekindled Interest’s career to date, Conlan said, “It’s
been quite frustrating, we’ve had bad barriers, (been) knocked
over at the start, he just hasn’t had the luck that he’s needed.”
Winning jockey Dwayne Dunn explained later that, although this
was the first time he had ridden Rekindled Interest, he had been
watching the gelding from afar.
“I actually saw him a long time ago at the two-year-old jumpouts at
Balnarring. He beat us and beat us quite convincingly on one we
thought went OK and I’ve always kept an eye on him and always
strived to be associated with him whenever I could and I haven’t
been able to get onto him until today which is probably the right
time.”
“I think I’m punching around as well as anyone at the moment
and just found the right spot on him today and just got a beautiful
run in transit.”
“Obviously the horse hasn’t had that much luck the way they’ve
just been teaching him to try and stay and just find the line.
Unfortunately last start he missed the start and just got squeeze
out of it and it probably took away from what he could do.”
Rekindled Interest is the 67th stakeswinner for Redoute’s Choice
and has now won two of his six starts for earnings of $197,200.