Trainer Jason Manning is still floating on cloud nine after Noir De Rue’s remarkable win last weekend, but his focus now centres on the $75,000 Darwin Guineas (1600m).
The feature race for the three-year-olds, which has attracted a competitive field, takes place at Fannie Bay on Saturday – Day 1 of the 2023 Darwin Cup Carnival.
Manning has two runners in the race – $5.50 second favourite Arch Of Titus (Vanessa Arnott) and $26 hope Chef De Mission (Aaron Sweeney) – and is also caring for $17 chance Sir Toop (Casey Hunter) for Gawler trainer Aaron Bain.
Sir Toop was a last-start winner at Port Augusta in a Class 2 over 1396m on June 11.
“I think if you ran the Guineas a few times you’d probably get a different result,” Manning said.
“The obvious stand out is Dick Leech’s runner Century Fox ($4.50 fav) – he has been ultra impressive since coming to the NT.”
Arriving from Michael Travers’ Wagga Wagga stable in April, Century Fox won the NT Guineas (1600m) and finished fifth in the Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at Pioneer Park before overcoming fellow three-year-olds in a BM66 over 1300m in his Top End debut on June 24.
“Arch Of Titus, he finished second behind Century Fox, I was rapt with his first up run – he was just off the speed.
“He’s a lovely big strong horse, he’ll improve getting to the mile and with the run under his belt.
“His NSW form, he has led over a mile, but it will give Vanessa the chance to see how the horses inside and outside are going and then get him in a nice spot and have him ready to attack late.
“Chef De Mission is a horse that we got off Morphettville trainer Travis Doudle – he sent him up.
“He had nice Port Augusta form and Travis felt that he would suit up here.
“When the barriers came out I won’t say what I said, but he’s drawn the outside in a field of 12.
“There’s no use worrying about it, we can’t do anything about it.
“He is a go-forward horse, that’s his racing pattern, and drew wide the other day and was ninth behind Century Fox, no fault of Emma (Lines) – she did a great job on him.
“Got to be positive, hopefully Chef De Mission will end up just outside the lead or he might sprout wings and keep rolling forward.
“I like the middle gates here in that mile start up the hill – even if they do go forward it just gives them a chance.
“The first emergency has drawn one and Arch Of Titus drew nine.
“We just look forward and get them ready for Saturday in the best possible order.
“It’s going to be a tactical race, obviously.
“There’s a fair bit of speed on the outside, but not much we can do.
“As I said, go through the Guineas field and you could make a case for quite a few of them.
“A lot of them hit the line good in that 1300m lead up race, so it’s just going to come down to a bit of luck in running.”
Manning and partner Arnott have good reason to be buoyant after eight-year-old gelding Noir De Rue – who has run third (2021) and fourth (2022) in the Darwin Cup – came from a long way back before motoring home spectacularly to win the ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) last Saturday when first-up from a spell.
2023 ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) – July 1, 2023
Winner: Noir De Rue
“We’re feeling optimistic, this is the time we need to kick goals,” Manning said.
“We’ve got some nice ones coming through for Carnival.
“We’ll worry about Saturday first and try and get over the line, try and turn the tables on Century Fox.
“Noir De Rue, the old horse, also proved what a marvel he is.
“Vanessa felt that once he peeled out, she gave him one more around the tail and felt him really attack the line.
“Put his ears back and said ‘let’s go’ – it was quite remarkable the last 100m, that’s for sure.
“It’s his third season in the Territory, he carries big weights, but it doesn’t seem to worry him.
“He’s versatile, he’s won from 1200-2200m and he’ll only improve from the run.
“If they jump and lead and get run down you haven’t got much options, but that old horse he can be on the speed or he can get back.
“He will go to the Chief Minister’s (Cup) now on July 15, which is 1600m at weight-for-age, so he’ll get a little bit of weight relief.
“The other horses will have to meet him on equal weights.
“Then hopefully three weeks later into the Darwin Cup for his third tilt.
“He doesn’t owe us anything, we just keep setting him for grand final day and hopefully we can get the big one.”
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