First cup runner for Latta

BY TIM BARTON

Lisa Latta will be breaking new ground when Manonamission tackles the Auckland Cup at Ellerslie today.

The Awapuni trainer has had more than 3500 runners and won Group I races at Ellerslie but this will be her first Auckland Cup starter.

It was not a race that came immediately to mind when Manonamission joined Latta's stable, in December 2008.

Manonamission was already a proven performer but his eight wins had all been at 1600m and he had had only a handful of middle distance runs.

His first win for Latta, in the Summer Cup at Awapuni, was also at 1600m but at the age of eight he has emerged as a genuine stayer.

He has had a win and three placings from six middle distance runs this term and has raced with credit each time.

The win came in modest company, against four rivals in the Cup Prelude at Awapuni, but his three placings have been in group company.

He finished second-equal behind Red Ruler in the Wellington Cup (2400m) and was third to Red Ruler in the City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. He also finished second, beaten a long head, in the Manawatu Cup (2300m).

In his one start since the Wellington Cup, Manonamission made ground late for sixth in the Taranaki Cup (2000m), at a distance that proved too short for him around New Plymouth.

That form reads well in an even field today and he will be ridden by top jockey Opie Bosson.

However, he has also paid a price for his consistency and his handicap rating has been raised eight points this term and by 12 points since joining Latta.

The only horses with more weight in today's feature – Zavite, Spin Around, Mandela and Everbright – have all won at least $950,000, while Manonamission has earned just over $200,000.

That may be reflected in his fixed odds price of $26 last night, though he still looks over the odds.

"We are very happy with him and he's going to get a good track," Latta said.

A good track is vital Manonamission, who has had nine wins and six placings from 31 starts on fast or good ground and just a solitary win from 11 starts on dead or slow tracks.

"He's a runner's chance and I think he will stay the distance, as long as he relaxes," Latta said."It's an even field, with no standouts."

Manonamission is raced by former top jockey Kim Clapperton, in partnership with her ex-husband, Andy Rennie, and the pair showed their faith in the horse by paying a $30,000 late entry fee for the Auckland Cup.

Manonamission earned $35,250 with his Wellington Cup placing and will be racing for a first prize of $600,000 today, with $175,000 for second, $85,000 for second and $39,000 for fourth.

Fifth place is worth $23,000 and the remainder of the field earn $6000, as a starter's incentive.

Clapperton, a top apprentice is New Zealand before going on to be a premiership winner on the Singapore-Malaysia circuit, is confident Manonamission can finish in the first three.

"Lisa has really found the key to him and he's definitely a hope," Clapperton said. "I think he's more of a $10 chance. It's a wide open field and not many of the others have form around Red Ruler."

- © Fairfax NZ News