Heroes Return: Niner Connection, Manifest Destiny, Giant’s Banjo at New South Wales
New South Wales– Gimme the green. A lean mean monster miler machine … and thensome for the sophomore heroes enjoy a fair frazzle. Over the New South Wales turf course, they shall match their mettle in a $600,000 showdown. It’s the Mospe Cup(G1) and only one can claim the winner’s circle for his own. It’s time for brave heroes and feisty newcomers in a grassy mile spectacle………
The Buddy Connection?
…… And there’s no better hero than n2racing2’s Niner Connection. The #1-ranked sophomore turf classic colt has been sizzlingly consistent all year, hitting the board in near all of his starts. Can you say, lean, mean, hungry machine? ‘Coz the 2,000 Guineas(G1) champ aims to regain his classic glory — he hasn’t won since his big Mayday. He’s been knocking heads versus the best in the division since though — the Forty Niner son hopes to turn the tables on his fellow peers such as the ‘Giant (who beat them all in June’s star-studded St. James Tavern(G1)) and put Manifest Destiny again in his place.
All this, absent ‘Niner’s gritty rival, General’s Chariot. The amazing duo played the dramatic pair over the springtime and especially the summer in these miler grades. As the two best juvenile turf colts of ’04, the rivalry between Niner Connection and General’s Chariot culiminated two back with the ‘General gamely winning over six furlongs.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the duo will appear together sometime soon — ‘General continued on his sprinter campaign, while ‘Niner tested older horses in the deep million-dollar Canada Mile(G1):
“It was a really tough race and we couldn’t be happier for our colt,” trainer N2racing said about Niner Connection’s 4th-place finish. “‘Niner closed well to only get beat by two lengths and change, equaling his 106 SP# best mile mark. He was full of trouble down the lane too…. I think he darn well expected to see the brown shadow of his rival, General. When he didn’t see his buddy, my colt got plain blue. [Jockey] Bennie Renfro said he was just confused and undecided for a couple strides and that cost us the race.”
N2racing added that he’s since remedied Niner Connection’s seperation anxiety:
“I called [trainer of General’s Chariot] Snowchief and we worked out a plan,” N2racing explained. “Snowchief held the phone to General’s ear, while I put ‘Niner on the other end. It sounded like the two colts had a good chat — whinnies and neighs all around, and, the next day, ‘Niner worked a half mile in fine time. I think he’s back!”
Niner Connection breaks from lucky post #7 as the 7/2 favorite. Top jockey Larry Fontain gets the call to pilot the superstar.
Destiny Back On The Plate
Venomous advice. Poor Manifest Destiny — he’s got a heroic name and the talent to match. But oh boy! The Storm Cat colt sure didn’t appreciate the recent experiments over added distance. After fumbling in the Big Red(G1) over 10f, tigerman’s colt even got beat over 12f versus average company. Yuck. 🙁
No worries though….. the All Your Base(G1) winner earlier this year returns to a hot mile. He can hold his own against this group and could light up the stars with a definitive breakout run. Sure, he’s been beat by ‘Niner twice and Giant’s Banjo too, but you gotta be aware. Horses that return to their preferred distance have a habit of throwing huge numbers.
The #2-ranked 3yo turf classic colt could be sitting on a big race — if so, watch out. It’s his destiny after all. Top jockey Phillippo Bangs guides the colt from post 4. He’ll need to steer clear of traffic and that’s not one of Manifest Destiny’s fortes closing from midpackishness though. Still, major threat for tigerman stable’s owner Nextbonus.
Giant Needs His Groove
St. James Tavern(G1) winner Giant’s Banjo eyes a major bounce back in form. Trainer itsalock spelled the Dixieland Band son after the colt suffered from traffic woes in the Newmarket Rivalry(G1):
“We just didn’t like his lacadaisical Rivalry finish,” itsalock stable’s owner Rcdlogan said. “He got bumped around a lot at the start and suffered a minor cut on his hind leg. So, we took him to the farm and ‘Giant enjoyed the pasture and fresh air. Just a short while though…. I wasn’t too surprised he just galloped in the Maudlin(G1) versus older horses. It was a darn fast 1:34 1/5 again and my colt just needed a race.”
On his toes in the morning, Giant’s Banjo zipped a swell workout recently and merits serious consideration at 7/1.
“Twelfth-ranked in the division is nothing to sneeze at,” Rcdlogan commented. “Yeah, we got something to prove, but, you know, ‘Giant only has 10 starts under his belt — much less than the faves. I’m quietly confident he can return to his old fantastic form.”
Giant’s Banjo can throw superb SP#s to throttle this field. Watch out if he’s back in his groove.
Hot On A Desert Speed Trail
Baldrick stable sends out an exciting newcomer: Your Desert(IRE). The speedster was positvely on fire after finishing third to Giant’s Banjo in the Dracula Stakes(G1) last spring. The Desert King(IRE) son dispatched a 7f listed stakes score, then pulled off a righthand wallop[ versus older horses in the Hyperactive Handicap(G1 – 7f). Mmhmm. It was a 106 SP# thrashing and signaled the beginning of the sophomores taking on their summertime older horse counterparts.
That victory was only this colt’s seventh start and third win too — impressive resume for this youngster. And it just gets better with Your Desert (IRE) tacking on a sizzling 107 SP# Tete Mile(G2) against his age group afterwards. Toss out the last race — a troubled sixth after dueling on the lead in the Violin Mile(G3) — and you got a star-in-the-making.
How good is this colt who boasts a royal Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew female family? The oddsmakers love him at 5/1 here, but he’s got to outduel fellow pacesetter Centarus(IRE) again this time around. Centarus went head and head with Your Desert in that Violin Mile and that was all she worte for both of them. If this colt can avoid that kind of suicide pace, then he could very well provide a mild upset. One to watch from post 12.
Scenting The Bigtime
Galileo(IRE) son Centarus(IRE) finished fifth in that Violin Mile(G3) after getting into a torrid pace race with Your Desert(IRE). Flashes of brilliance with this daninja trainee — he wired the Craven Stakes(G3) in fine time last April and devoured a *very* nice $100,000 Kilt Raising Special mile in August with a 107 SP# (solid field in that listed event.. I had a horse in it, LOL).
In between though, Centarus(IRE) has been kind of here and there due to an apparent injury. Seriously talented colt who again faces a pace duel, but can really throw the necessary numbers to wallop the faves. It’s difficult to seperate him from Your Desert(IRE), though the latter has a better resume. Don’t count out this colt — well deserved spot at the bigtime here breaking from post 10.
Simply Transformational
Vampires must’ve attacked Transylvania earlier in his career. The Peintre Celebre was a useful stakes runner… but nothing really special. The colt even finished a hot-n-dirty seventh in Your Desert’s Tete Mile Classic(G1).
But never understimate the value of a late-blooming pedigree, because as soon as this guy hit his 10th start, whammo! The resulting Smackdown victory jolted this guy into his prime. Transylvania followed that win up with a heartbreaking 109 SP# photo finish loss in the Violin Mile(G3). Quite a transformation then for this waremblem2 trainee. We’ll see if he can duplicate that spooky speed number on three weeks rest and from behind the pace or so. Should be right there at 7/1.
The rest of the field:
- Wonderboy Da Vinci(IRE) from wonder4 stable is 0-for-4 lifetime at a mile. Excellent grass sprinter belted out a huge number over 7.5f LTO. No reason to suspect that the Theatrical(IRE) son won’t take to the extra sixteenth. Possible, but sometimes even a sixteenth makes all the distance. Something to prove at 11/1.
- Hip Today (12/1) could join the fray from behind the pace off of a 2-race win streak at ALW level. Awesome Again colt faces steep class leap — hasn’t competed against this caliber over a mile, so this is a reach. Not much of a chance, but maybe minor piece of purse at best for sdmf3 stable.
- 2004 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf champ Like A Porcupine (13/1) really hasn’t been the same this year. Missed over 7f ALW company LTO. No reason to believe that he’ll suddenly turn it around Saturday. Outsider for trifecta stable.
- At 13/1, paceman2’s Rivaldo(IRE) by El Prado(IRE) cuts back in distance. Has made some $$$ at 10f+… don’t really know if he’s indeed a miler. You’d think he would’ve ran a little better at 9f if he was indeed a miler. Outsider. Flip a coin.
- Update Your Life (23/1) closed well over a 101 SP# mile in stakes company several starts back. Trainer update though keeps extending this colt to middle routes without much success. Interesting longshot, but this is his toughest start date and he’ll have to run the race of his life. Exhaust this colt’s conditions at a flat mile to 8.5f in ALW company if you can — get him a couple wins and then shoot for listed stakes. Talented.
- At 27/1, monimonica’s lightly raced Chaney As Gepetto faces the toughest group yet in his young career. Colt hasn’t won a stakes race yet nor scaled the 100 SP# barrier. and hasn’t tested 8f turf either. Too big a reach. No chance.
- XXXX Gold (40/1) is in it for the post parade. Races for superfecta stable. Try dirt again — those SP#s over grass aren’t gonna win ya much when he has to face older horses.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Quite plausible that Your Desert and Centarus will repeat suicide pace duel again… but it’s only gonna be those two. I don’t see much else legitimate speed… plenty of stalkers though. If those two can calm down a bit, than either one could wire the field, though probably Your Desert fits that bill best.
I’ll gamble that they’ll both raise hell and thus turn to a strong classy stalker like the favorite, Niner Connection. He’s plain due for a winner’s circle trip. I’m kind of thinking (errrrr, agreeing! Ha!) that Manifest Destiny’s probably best at 9f. I don’t have a lot of confidence that Giant’s Banjo will bounce back, but if he does, it’ll be a photo between him and ‘Niner. Transylvania could be right there as well, though he might bounce after such a huge SP#.
Then again, ‘Niner had a tough race too LTO and I worry that both he and General have had rigorous graded schedules this year. How many more times can we go to the well, Todd? Ha! But I’ll take Niner Connection on consistency and keep on eye on frisky Manifest Destiny.
Picks:
Win: Niner Connection
Place: Giant’s Banjo or Manifest Destiny
Show: Your Desert
Good luck to all!
Grade 1 Mospe Cup Stakes History:
6th installment this year, first run in 2000. All runnings at track A2 (New South Wales), over 8 furlongs on turf. All firm turf. Purse: $600,000. Real-life equivalent = unknown (that I could find anyway in the autumn Epsom racing calendar… LOL. Any ideas? :)).
2000: Won by Bailey Beach (ace), 1:35. Stalker style triumph over $3.7-million earner and 2,000 Guineas champ Used Bandaid, major stakes winners Pleasant Neck, Irish Tarbash(FR), Duke Three(GB), etc. Multiple stakes winner sired by Demidoff. Went on to finish 4th in that year’s Breeders Bowl Mile. Retired B-rank. “Dam” of winless foal.
2001: Won by September Storm (futurestar), 1:34 3/5. Wire to wire over 2,000 Guineas champ Commander Jerricho, New Yorker winner Dirty Mat, etc. Summer Squall son won $2-million in a long successful career. Retired B-Rank. “Dam” of Grade 2-winner September Royalty (currently 22nd-ranked 3yo dirt classic filly).
2002: Won by Daneye (paceman2), 1:34 2/5. Midpack rally over $4.2-milion earner Ray Of Pye, Rivendell, etc. By Danehill, placed in 2,000 Guineas and went on to earn $3-million. Retired A-rank. “Dam” of another leading 2005 sophomore miler: Dubeye (Newmarket Rivalry(G1)).
2003: Won by Dyardanes (lebori), 1:33 4/5. Stalker score over $2.6 million earner Eruption, major stakes winners Greenback Passer, Kiki’s Storm Opera, Keep The Faith(IRE), etc. Win was lone Grade 1 triumph for the Spinning World millionaire. Retired B-rank. “Dam” of current 12th-ranked 2yo turf colt, TJ Jesse (Arch).
2004: Won by Peintre Indyman (milnerton), 1:33 4/5. Sweeping off pace win over Equinics champ The Tempest, major stakes winners Jacques, Satrustegui, A Bus(AUS), etc. Remains solo stakes victory for Peintre Celebre son. Active.