Weather beaten

The weather affected the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s bold gamble to host an elite night meeting on Grand Final eve, but it didn’t spoil it: it was cold, but rain held off until after the last; the track was slow (rated 7), but it provided competitive racing; and the performers stood up, but importantly promised more.

Moonee Valley will be a beneficiary, too, with Group 1 Manikato Stakes winner Danleigh and several of those who chased him home over the 1200 metres – without luck in some cases – to have another crack in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate day, October 24.

As a contest, the $500,000 Manikato, named for one of Australia’s great sprinters, delivered. Danleigh ($17) was beautifully ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and well prepared by Chris Waller, two of Sydney’s brightest young talents, albeit usually in different camps with McEvoy Darley’s No. 1 rider. Waller had Damien Oliver work Danleigh (b g 6, Mujahid (USA)-Graceful Lily, by Dr. Grace (NZ)) at Moonee Valley on Monday, and last night McEvoy used his local knowledge to position the gelding to take full use of a narrow gap when it came in the surge to the line.

Danleigh was already a Group 1 winner, taking out the $400,000 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April. Second placegetter Phelan Ready ($17) was unlucky, finishing powerfully after not handling the turn. His run backed trainer Jason McLachlan’s claim that there was nothing wrong with the Group 1 Golden Slipper winner when he was scratched on veterinary advice from the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield last week.

Phelan Ready (br g 3, More Than Ready (USA)-Nancy Eleanor, by Blevic) has won only two of nine starts, but with the Slipper and the Magic Millions 2YO on the Gold Coast in his bag, has won more than $3.3 million.

McLachlan will decide this week if he will track on to the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 10.  “I’m probably obliged to go to the Guineas, although it’s an unorthodox preparation – through no fault of mine,” he said, as a parting shot.  The trainer was happy with fellow Queenslander Stathi Katsidis’ ride, saying, ‘He said if he gets around the corner he would have won’.”

But it was third placegetter Nicconi ($4.60 fav) who should have won, not been beaten ¾-length and a long head. Trainer David Hayes could not hide his disappointment about jockey Craig Williams’ decision to snag back to last and then coming from impossibly far back right around the field to look like he would still win before dying on his run.

Nicconi (b h 4, Bianconi (USA)-Nicola Lass, by Scenic), who is shaping as the best sprinter in Australia, remains on track for the $500,000 Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 7, the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, before Hayes looks to Dubai and England next year with him. The Classic is Danleigh’s ultimate spring target, too.

Hayes has the Schweppes option if he wants to run Nicconi before then. Trainer Greg Eurell said he would start his two sprinters, Apache Cat ($5.50) and Mic Mac ($5), next in the Schweppes – Mic Mac (b g 4, Statue Of Liberty (USA)-Amandine, by Tertian (USA)) was fifth in the Manikato, Apache Cat (Ch g 7, Lion Cavern (USA)-Tennessee Blaze, by Whiskey Road (USA)), who was back with Nicconi as they straightened, sixth.

Wanted (b c 3, Fastnet Rock-Fragmentation, by Snippets) was fourth at $26 after showing up strongly, and leading clearly into the straight, and trainer Peter Moody had some consolation when promising Avenue (br f 3, Anabaa (USA)-Virage, by Kenmare (Fr)) was a decisive winner of the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m).

Carrara (b c 3, Elvstroem-Crystal Sprite, by Hurricane Sky), the winner of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at $1.75 fav, is entered in the Guineas but trainer Tony Vasil was of the view the colt looks to be a rung below the Sydney stars, Denman (Br c 3, Lonhro-Peach, by Vain) and Trusting (b c 3, Tale Of The Cat (USA)-Legible (NZ), by Zabeel (NZ)).

Patinack Farm colt Trusting’s run was huge when second in the Prelude a week ago and Darley’s Denman had another impressive win today, ridden “upside down” in easily handling a small field in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

McEvoy said he positioned  the $1.35 favourite Denman further forward than usual to suit the race. Trainer Peter Snowden said McEvoy had no option but to be positive. “When he’s ridden the right way you’ll see a special Denman,” he said.

Bookies agree. TAB Sportsbet has this all-in Guineas market:

$3.50 Denman

$4.20 Trusting

$6.50 So You Think

$7.50 Manhattan Rain

$13 Demerit

$14 Phelan Ready

$15 Onemorenomore

$16 Carrara, Starspangledbanner

Denman’s sire Lonhro won the Stan Fox in 2001; Lonhro’s sire Octagonal won it in 1995.

Outsider Road To Rock ($41) won Saturday’s Randwick feature, the $300,000 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m), from Black Piranha ($7) and Onemorenomore ($5). The $1.90 favourite Racing To Win was a disappointing second last.

Anthony Cummings, who trains Road To Rock (b h 5, Encosta De Lago-Trewornan (GB), by Midyan (USA)), had his second Group 1 win in a week  – Turffontein (ch h 5, Johannesburg (USA)-Spirit Of Grace, by Dr Grace (NZ)) won the Rupert Clarke (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday. He backed up in the Manikato last night, finishing a solid eighth.

Singapore’s sweetheart Jolie’s Shinju (b or br m 5, Jolie’s Halo (USA)-Endearing Quality (USA), by Danzig (USA)) was a big drifter ($3.50 to $4.80 fav) and a big disappointment in finishing second last after leading for the first 1600m of the JRA Cup (2040m) at the Valley. On that run it is a waste of time going on to her target race, the Cox Plate (2040m) – a mares’ race looks her level.

Alcopop ($15) gave drinkers a winning finish to the night when he was impressive in running down Field Hunter ($11) in the JRA Cup. It was the third win on end this time in for Alcopop (b g 5, Jeune (GB)-Iota Of Luck, by Blevic). Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur described Alcopop as a serious horse and said: “We’ve got to press on here.”

Trainer Jake Stephens, who missed second declarations for the Caulfield Cup with Alcopop, said: “It was a brilliant ride, too. When he squeezed through that gap I was so excited.”

Next start will be determined when the excitement eases. Alcopop has won six of nine, the best before last night the Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m).