Media Releases
Centralian Advocate Tuesday 15 SEP 2009
SUPER trainer Nev Connor has made it three Crowne Plaza NT Guineas wins in four years, taking out the race with Gnaeus Equus on day one of the XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup Carnival.
GNAEUS Equus has swept all before him to take out the 2008/2009 Lillis Group Horse of the Year Award.
The four-year-old claimed the top gong in Central Australian racing ahead of Ken Rogerson's Curtseyed and The Soldier, also taking out the 3YO horse of the year and middle distance horse of the year awards.
A spectacular autumn was cut short for the gelding with a chipped knee after scintillating performances in the NT Guineas and the Alice Springs Cup lead-up, the Ladies' Day WFA classic.
Trainer Nev Connor said Gnaeus Equus was recovering well and expects to have his stayer in mint condition for another assult on the Alice Springs Cup next year. He said: "We'll look at bringing him back after Christmas and hopeful get him ready for the Alice Spings Cup Carnival."
The three-year-old filly finished over the top of Viv Oldfield's Sovereign Charm to pass the post 2 1/4 lengths clear, equalling the track record for the mile, in one of the most impressive Guineas performances in recent years.
Continuing his Midas touch with the $30,000 three-year-old showpiece event (Filamony, 2006 and Marco Largo, 2007), Connor said Gnaeus Equus could be the pick of the bunch.
He said: ``Time is what we have to go on when comparing these horses, and Filamony and Marco Largo weren't capable of running his time over the mile.
``He's just a great staying horse, and I reckon he could have gone faster if someone was there at the line with him and broken the track record, not just equalled it.''
The $2.20 favourite Pioneer Prince raced to the front, setting the pace early, and was soon joined by Sovereign Charm as they approached the half-way mark.
The filly looked in the box seat as they turned for the home stretch, kicking a length clear of the pack only for Gnaeus Equus to promptly draw level as the pair put distance between them and the chasing field.
In the end, Connor's runner was too good striding clear in the closing stages to finish, clear of Sovereign Charm with Paula Trenwith's Manhattan Jazz a further 5 1/2 lengths back in third.
Openly impressed by his runner's performance in the first big race of the carnival, Connor sees his runner a big chance to compete in the $80,000 XXXX Gold Alice Springs Cup.
He said: ``At this stage I'd say yes.
``We'll look at running him in the three and four-year old race (Alice Springs Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic Handicap on Ladies Day) and see how he goes in the next step up.''
By avoiding the open races in the build up to the Alice Springs Cup, Connor believes his three-year-old can steer clear of any weight sanctions and carry only 53kg come Cup day.