Mandela may have surprise in store
PREMIER Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton has spun some wizardry in feature races in the past, but if he can prepare Mandela Effect to bounce back from a Hobart Cup flop to win the weight-for-age Mowbray Stakes over 1600m on Wednesday, he will be hailed a genius.
Brunton tried Mandela Effect beyond 1600m for the first time in the Summer Cup (2200m) in Hobart in which he finished a game second to rank outsider White Hawk.
But he followed up two weeks later with a distant eighth in the Hobart Cup over 2400m.
The multiple premiershipwinning trainer isn’t overly confident the Turffontein gelding can win the Mowbray Stakes – even though he won the race last year – but he says the horse is back to his best distance and can’t be left out of contention.
“I don’t know that I’m smart enough or good enough to win the race on Wednesday with Mandela Effect, but I know the horse is mentally and physically fit enough to tackle the race and he did win it last year, albeit off a way different preparation,” Brunton said.
He also saddles up his gallant grey Sir Simon in the Mowbray Stakes and the astute mentor has warned punters not to let the big, freestriding gelding get under their guards.
“Sir Simon didn’t get the trip in the Hobart Cup, but that run has really brought him on.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran an absolute bottler on Wednesday.”
The favourite is the Leanne Gaffney-trained Newhart that won the weight-for-age Thomas Lyons (1400m) convincingly on Hobart Cup day and according to his trainer, the son of Fighting Sun has done well wince the outing.
“Newhart hasn’t missed a beat since the Thomas Lyons and he will go into the Mowbray Stakes in top shape,” Gaffney said.
Half-centuries posted by batsmen coming in at No.4-7 since 2018. England ............. 21 (from 30 completed innings) India ..................... 20 (44) New Zealand ........ 17 (36) Pakistan ............... 16 (43) South Africa .......... 14 (27) Bangladesh .......... 10 (27) West Indies ............ 9 (32) Australia ................ 9 (36)