Master Of Arts has stamped himself as a legitimate Sydney Cup contender with a smart win in this afternoon’s Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The Darren Weir-trained stayer received the lion’s share of attention from punters leading into the NE Manion Cup and firmed $14 into $8 by jump.
Jockey Damien Lane elected to take a position within the NE Manion Cup field after jumping well as Multitude ($26), Peribsen ($10) and Equipped ($61) flew the stalls and took up the early running.
Lane steadily worked the horse into the race as the field approached the bend and he was offered a clear racing line upon arriving at the final straight.
Immediately responding when asked for an extra effort, Master Of Arts shot clear of his rivals and looked the winner from the 250m, and had ultimately done enough to hold out a fast-finishing Alward ($5) who flew home in the middle of the track to finish a half-length second.
Peribsen and Singing ($8) were prominent throughout the race and both boxed on well to finish third and fourth respectively.
Master Of Arts has firmed into 2018 Sydney Cup odds of $21 in Neds’ early market following this afternoon’s win.
Alward lost not admirers when he went close to defying a late drift and he remains firm at Sydney Cup odds of $16.
Peribsen and Singing remain on lower lines at $51 and $26 respectively.