Murphy testing new waters with Moussaeiff
Matt Markham - Raceform • January 15th, 2026 11:13 AM • 3 min read
At seven years old, Moussaieff is getting a little long in the tooth for career-firsts, but he’ll notch one up at Wingatui on Saturday for Canterbury trainer Kezia Murphy.
The son of Redwood will have his 19th career start in the $50,000 Skevingtons Waikouaiti Cup on a strong day of racing in Otago, in what will also be his first race outside of either Riccarton or Ashburton. Yet, somewhat oddly, it won’t be his first trip to Wingatui.
Murphy snuck the capable stayer down to the track last year, where he partook in an exhibition gallop between races, so he’s felt the surface underneath his feet, just not under race conditions.
“It’s just the way it’s all worked out really, he’s either raced at Riccarton or at Ashburton, so it’s a bit of a first for him this week,” Murphy told RaceForm.
“He can be a bit of a quirky horse at times, so we’ve often just stuck to what works best with him, but it’s a good opportunity for him in a good stakes race so we couldn’t turn it down.”
While down in the ratings for the 2200m feature on Saturday, which is spearheaded by hometown star Mayor Of Norwood, Moussaieff does boast some of the best form in the race.
He was last seen during Cup Week at Riccarton, where he finished second behind the talented Rosso, who is Trentham-bound this weekend for the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes. In the run to the line, he held off the challenge of the talented Steal My Thunder with Peachy Keen in fourth, so the form makes for good reading.
Murphy elected to give the gelding a break post-Cup Week and he’s come back up nice and slowly with this particular race this weekend identified early as a good starting point.
“He had two weeks out in the paddock after the Cup Week run and he’s come back up really nicely since then. He’s always had the ability and I’m just starting to think we might be able to see the best of him this time in given he’s been so lightly raced in his career to date.”
Murphy wasn’t really sure what to expect in terms of rivals when she nominated for this week, but was pleasantly surprised when she saw the list of runners when it was released.
“Obviously Mayor Of Norwood is a good horse and always goes well at Wingatui, but I thought we get into the race quite well.
“On his work at home, he seems really well and I’m hoping he can head down there and run a good race for us first-up.”
A winner of four of his 18 career starts, Moussaieff possesses a decent record with a further six minor placings and over $100,000 in stake earnings.
Murphy has no firm plans in place going forward, instead waiting to see how things play out on Saturday before setting the next target.
One horse she does have a few plans for though is La Evita, who will step out in a heat of the ODT Southern Mile series, having her first run for six months after making a big impression during the winter.
The five-year-old mare by Puccini grabbed three wins in a row through May and June, going from maiden to Rating 75 company in the space of two weeks, which forced her into some strong races at the end of the campaign.
“She’d done such a wonderful job for us. I decided a good spell was what she needed, and she went to the paddock for three months, and it’s been a slow and gradual build-up from there for her.
“I really like her and think she’ll just keep getting better, she’s a natural stayer and has been right from the outset, I think her first run for me was over 2200 metres and she’s barely been under the distance since.”
That might set a few alarm bells ringing for punters looking to have a wager on the mare come Saturday given she’ll race over the mile, and Murphy can only agree.
“Unless it’s a really wet track down there, which she’ll of course love, I’d think she might be a little out-paced by a few in what is a very quality looking field.
“But she won’t disgrace herself, I know that much. We chose this race to kick things off and she will go well fresh I’m sure, but we’re looking to some other races for her going forward.”
One of those races in the immediate future is the Riverton Cup at Easter time, a race that looks tailor-made for a mare like La Evita with her staying prowess and liking for tracks with a bit of give out of the ground.
With such a good break behind her and a solid build-up toward her return to the track this weekend, Murphy is looking long term with the mare and has a few other targets in sight.
“We’ll have to see how she comes up and what she does this time in, but we’ve given her that good break for a reason and expect her to really thrive off it.
“I’m keen to see her go on some better ground, just to see if she’s up to that and then we can maybe look at a race like Riverton or there’s plenty of other opportunities available as well.
“If she can cop the better tracks, then I'd love to set her for a New Zealand Cup because I think the further they go, the better suited she will be.”
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