SYDNEY - Sydney Cup favourite Precedence showed he was on target for the group one staying test at Randwick next month with another dominant win in the Listed Manion Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.
It was the son of Zabeel's third straight victory this preparation and confirmed his standing as
one of Cups King Bart Cummings' most promising stayers.
Precedence ($1.80 fav) wasn't suited by the stop-start tactics adopted by Jim Cassidy on leader Alexander Of Hales but still proved too good over the 2400m journey, sprinting quickly in the straight to defeat Inkster ($21) by 1 lengths with a neck to The Embassy ($4.40) in third.
Cummings confirmed the group two Chairman's Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on April 10 would be the 4-year-old's next start before the 3200m Sydney Cup on April 24.
He has now tightened from $5 to $4.60 favourite for the Sydney Cup with TAB Sportsbet.
"He's going further and further and the further he goes the better he'll be," Cummings said on Saturday.
"There was no pace on today, if there was any pace on it would have been a lot easier for him but they just walked.
"We are keeping him in handicaps leading up to the Sydney Cup and the way he's going the longer the distance, the better he'll be suited.
"He's got a good future."
Jockey Luke Nolen positioned Precedence in fourth place one off the fence during the run as Cassidy tried to dictate terms in front.
Nolen said Precedence didn't show the same explosive turn of foot he did when winning by seven lengths at Flemington last start but has no doubt the gelding is on target for the feature staying races.
"Jim [Cassidy] was trying to upset my bloke and he succeeded but in a genuine-run race you'll see him attack the line even better than that," Nolen said.
"He's an exciting horse, he's still got some rough edges but I'm sure Bart's polish will rub them out, no worries."
The Inkster rallied in the straight to grab second from The Embassy who didn't see out the 2400m.
Trainer Chris Waller said The Embassy won't go to the Sydney Cup based on his Manion performance.
"He struggled at the distance," Waller said.
"The 2400m might be too much for him and he won't go to the Sydney Cup on that run."
- AAP
Racing: No precedents as Bart eyes another cup
SYDNEY - Sydney Cup favourite Precedence showed he was on target for the group one staying test at Randwick next month with another dominant win in the Listed Manion Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.
It was the son of Zabeel's third straight victory this preparation and confirmed his standing as
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