There will be no Golden Rose start for Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) but the lightly-raced colt has stamped himself as a star of the future in the eyes of his trainer Chris Waller.

Stepping up to Saturday stakes grade after wins at the Gold Coast and Newcastle, Mo’ungo justified his $2.70 favouritism and maintained his unbeaten record when he pounced late in the Listed Dulcify Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

A usually measured Waller was lavish in his praise of the three-year-old but said he won’t be pushing him too far too soon, ruling out a Golden Rose start.

“He’s not seasoned enough for that type of racing just yet in my opinion but gee, he is going to be something very special to look forward to,” Waller said.

“The plan was always the Spring Champion. I think he’s got a great future and we don’t need to bottom him out too quickly.

“They were decent horses he was racing against. He got back from his wide draw and settled, bided his time and came through them like a real professional.”

Mo’unga firmed from a $6 equal favourite into outright $2.80 top pick for next month’s Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

He is likely to have a final lead-up run in the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) in two weeks.

Ridden by James McDonald, Mo’unga scored by 1-1/2 lengths over Global Quest (More Than Ready) with Jet Propulsion (Rubick) another short neck away.

Mo’unga sports the colours of Aquis, who purchased the colt for $325,000 out of the Waikato Stud draft from Book 1 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.

Out of the O’Reilly mare Chandelier (NZ), who was runner-up in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2100m), Mo’unga is another example of the successful Savabeel – O’Reilly cross, which has produced 14 stakes winners to date.