Breeders’ Cup Ambition For Mansa Musa

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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Mansa Musa Set to Head to Hong Kong

Goodwood maiden winner Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) looks poised to continue his career overseas, according to his Irish-based trainer Diego Dias.  

“I was going to supplement him for the Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Saturday, but I think we have sold him and he is probably heading to Hong Kong,” he said.

Bred by the Cullen family's Middlelane Farm, the juvenile was offered at the Goffs Dubai Breeze-up Sale in March but was bought back by his partners in Star Bloodstock, who had given 55,000gns for him as a yearling. 

“It's nice to work with horses like him,” said Dias, a former jockey who now operates as a breeze-up consignor as well as being a licensed trainer.

Mansa Musa made his debut at Naas on July 8, finishing almost seven lengths adrift of the winner when taking sixth place. He got up by a short-head at Glorious Goodwood to win the British EBF-sponsored six-furlong maiden from Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never) at odds of 20-1.

“He was showing plenty at home and we thought he was a proper little horse who could win first time out,” Dias added. 

“He improved a lot at Goodwood and the form is good. The second horse is a nice horse who they think a lot of and it was a hot maiden.

Dias still hopes to be represented in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. by the dual listed-placed Gaenari (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). A £23,000 yearling, she was bought in at the Goffs UK Breeze-up for just £3,000.

He said, “She was second in Deauville last time, but she came back home and she's fresh and happy and we will probably give her a run in the Phoenix. She looks fine and the race at Deauville did not take much out of her, so she's in great form.

“She's been unfortunate not to get her head in front yet, she's been second three times now and two times in listed races.”

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