IS it Diablo Bolt‘s destiny to win the Group 3 $250,000 N.E. Manion Cup (2400m) on Golden Slipper Day?
Trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, Diablo Bolt has won five of his past seven starts in Queensland and has earned his chance in the feature staying race where he’s rated at $11 in latest betting.
But the very obvious clue comes in the ownership group with Diablo Bolt being raced by Triple Crown’s Chris Ward and Sam Manion.
Manion is the great-grandson of N.E. (Newman) Manion, a former director of the then-Sydney Turf Club.
Sam Manion has often presented the Manion Cup to previous winners but the ATC has been able to persuade other Manion family members to be part of Saturday’s presentation ceremony.
“Diablo Bolt is a horse that just keep improving and he deserves his chance in this race,” Sam Manion said. “It’s exciting because Golden Slipper meeting is my favourite day of the year.”
It’s also worth noting that since 2000, 17 of the 25 winners have carried 55kg or less and the in-form Diablo Bolt gets into the Manion Cup on the 53kg limit.
Triple Crown also has $8.9 million dollar earner Mazu in the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) and Miss Hellfire in the Group 3 $250,000 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m).
By Ray Thomas
News Limited