The Breeders' Cup is calling for the connections of Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) after the Diego Dias-trained colt acquitted himself well in Group company at the Curragh.
Mansa Musa was last seen finishing a good second in the G3 Round Tower S. and now Barry Irwin, who heads Team Valor, the part-owners of the speedy juvenile, is dreaming of a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Irwin said, “I think six furlongs for him at this moment is just a little too far against the really good horses. The horse that beat him [Letsbefrankaboutit (Ire) (Sioux Nation)] the other day looks pretty smart.
“We're going to run him back one more time going six furlongs at Fairyhouse on September 18 because that is the most suitable race and if he performs well enough we will send him over to America for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Turf) Sprint.”
He added, “That is five furlongs around a turn and it is one of those races where if you get the right draw, then he is a very speedy horse and I think he could do something in a race like that.
“In his first race he showed a ton of speed and it just caught up with him in the last furlong, he went from first to last in a heartbeat. But he has a tremendous amount of early speed for a horse of his size.”
Mansa Musa was bought back at the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale earlier in the year and is another success story for Dias and Star Bloodstock on the track with the horses they failed to sell.
Geanari (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), who Dias also bought back for just £3,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale this year, has not managed to win in six starts this term but has achieved black-type and climbed to a rating of 99.
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