Jason Manning’s iron horse, the highly-credentialed nine-year-old gelding Noir De Rue, returns on Saturday as he eyes a fourth Darwin Cup Carnival campaign.
The son of Blackfriars faces decent opposition in an eight-horse field over 1200m at Fannie Bay.
“We never say it’s the last campaign, the old horse is going great,” Manning said.
“He’s done plenty of work, he’s been back three months and to be honest he’s like a three or four-year-old.
“He’s sound, he’s as honest as the day is long, and as bright as a button.
“Had a nice gallop Wednesday morning – he’ll have a couple of days in the pool leading into Saturday’s event.”
After forging a wonderful WA career where he had eight wins and 15 minor placings from 52 starts, Noir De Rue debuted in Darwin prior to the 2021 Carnival.
Victorious first up in an open 1200m handicap in June, he then finished fourth in the Chief Ministers Cup (1600m) and third in the Darwin Cup (2050m).
That was followed by seven SA starts, where he managed three seconds at Morphettville before returning to Darwin for a third in the ROANT Gold Cup (1300m) prior to the 2022 Carnival.
He finished third in the Chief Ministers Cup and fourth in the Darwin Cup that year and before returning for last year’s Carnival he managed two wins in November and a second in March.
Noir De Rue’s victory first up in the ROANT Gold Cup a year ago was something out of the box, especially with a 62.5kg impost, before winning the Chief Ministers Cup and finding 62kg a burden when ninth in the Darwin Cup.
The gelding races infrequently as he incurs the big weights due to a 99 rating.
In his only appearance since Cup Day last August, he saluted by the narrowest of margins on Australia Day against a top field over 1300m on a wet and muddy day lumping 65kg.
Noir De Rue has won from 1200-2200m, so with 64kg, he must be respected this weekend.
Manning’s partner, Vanessa Arnott, a long-time NT jockey, once again partners the gelding.
“He normally has a couple of runs over the wet season,” Manning said.
“He loves carrying the weight and loves a 1300m race, we’re sticking to a similar workload leading up to Carnival in July.
“Previously, we’ve just kicked him off in the ROANT Cup, but this year we’re kicking him off in the 1200m – it’s a nice starting point.
“Vanessa knows him as well as anybody, he’s drawn a middle barrier, he’ll bounce out and do his thing, and if he’s hitting the line like he does, then that’s all you can ask for.
“Sometimes he just sprouts wings and runs over the top of them, he always puts in and normally performs for us.
“The main thing is that he ticks off this weekend with a good run.
“Hopefully, he’ll drop a couple of kilos going into the ROANT Cup in two weeks, then it’s the weight-for-age Chief Ministers and then that first Monday in August (Darwin Cup).”
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