Mad Rush for Luca Cumani
August 13th 2008 06:52
In 2007 Luca Cumani went very close to securing the prize of the Melbourne Cup with Purple Moon. Like the Godolphin Stable, Aidan O'Brien and Ballydoyle, the lure and fascination of the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne will continue to draw the high profile stables to Melbourne.
This year Luca Cumani has nominated five horses for the Melbourne Cup:
Bauer
Ladies Best
Mad Rush
Sanbuch
Speed Gifted
Mad Rush is the highest rated of these in current betting for the Melbourne Cup.
Mad Rush is a 4 year old bay entire by Lemon Drop Kid (USA) from Revonda (IRE). He has raced 7 times for 2 wins; 4 seconds and 1 third.
At his last start on the 5th of July he won the Old Newton Cup Heritage Handicap at Haydock, defeating 14 rivals and winning by 4 lengths on soft ground. For a horse to have success in Australia they really do need tactical speed rather than dour staying ability. Mad Rush stalked the early leaders and took command more than two furlongs from home to run out an easy winner. It is a feature of his racing style that he gets on the speed and allows every chance for success.
He has proved ultra-consistent in his two seasons of racing with his third (worst performance in 7 starts) coming at his debut. Subsequently he has placed either first or second.
Luca Cumani has Mad Rush entered for this month's Ebor Handicap, a race he has won three times before, most recently last year with Purple Moon. Mad Rush will have to carry topweight in the Ebor with this a daunting task as the last topweight to win was Sea Pigeon in 1979. It is more likely that Luca Cumani will step Mad Rush up to Group company in future starts.
Even if Mad Rush does not take his place in the Ebor Cumani will be represented by Bauer and Sanbuch, both who are also nominated for the Melbourne Cup.
Quotes:
05 Jul 2008 Haydock (12f soft)
I am afraid it will probably have to be something like a Listed race or a Group race for him. He very much deserves this as he has been a little bit unlucky, he has come up against good horses at various stages of his career. At Ascot the other day he got caught out by the track as much as anything and a wonderful ride by Ryan Moore on the winner. Today he made no mistakes, he was always travelling well and he quickened well. -Luca Cumani, trainer
MAD RUSH recouped some of his backers' lost money from narrow defeats at Newmarket and Royal Ascot this season with a comprehensive victory achieved in a time almost a second quicker than that of Anna Pavlova in the previous contest.
With his stamina assured at this trip, he was given a predictably confident ride by Seb Sanders, who struck for home two furlongs out. A relentless galloper, he stayed on strongly and the handicapper's likely reaction to a four-length victory in such a competitive handicap is likely to force his trainer's hand towards Listed or Group races.
Luca Cumani's previous winners of this race have had mixed fortunes subsequently, but although he is unlikely to be another Japan Cup winner like Alkaased, Mad Rush is a very likeable sort. This performance clearly suggests he is improving, while also giving a boost to the efforts of Punjabi and Sugar Ray, who had beaten him this season - racing post.
Luca Cumani targets Melbourne Cup
This year Luca Cumani has nominated five horses for the Melbourne Cup:
Bauer
Ladies Best
Mad Rush
Sanbuch
Speed Gifted
Mad Rush is the highest rated of these in current betting for the Melbourne Cup.
Mad Rush is a 4 year old bay entire by Lemon Drop Kid (USA) from Revonda (IRE). He has raced 7 times for 2 wins; 4 seconds and 1 third.
At his last start on the 5th of July he won the Old Newton Cup Heritage Handicap at Haydock, defeating 14 rivals and winning by 4 lengths on soft ground. For a horse to have success in Australia they really do need tactical speed rather than dour staying ability. Mad Rush stalked the early leaders and took command more than two furlongs from home to run out an easy winner. It is a feature of his racing style that he gets on the speed and allows every chance for success.
He has proved ultra-consistent in his two seasons of racing with his third (worst performance in 7 starts) coming at his debut. Subsequently he has placed either first or second.
Luca Cumani has Mad Rush entered for this month's Ebor Handicap, a race he has won three times before, most recently last year with Purple Moon. Mad Rush will have to carry topweight in the Ebor with this a daunting task as the last topweight to win was Sea Pigeon in 1979. It is more likely that Luca Cumani will step Mad Rush up to Group company in future starts.
Even if Mad Rush does not take his place in the Ebor Cumani will be represented by Bauer and Sanbuch, both who are also nominated for the Melbourne Cup.
Quotes:
05 Jul 2008 Haydock (12f soft)
I am afraid it will probably have to be something like a Listed race or a Group race for him. He very much deserves this as he has been a little bit unlucky, he has come up against good horses at various stages of his career. At Ascot the other day he got caught out by the track as much as anything and a wonderful ride by Ryan Moore on the winner. Today he made no mistakes, he was always travelling well and he quickened well. -Luca Cumani, trainer
MAD RUSH recouped some of his backers' lost money from narrow defeats at Newmarket and Royal Ascot this season with a comprehensive victory achieved in a time almost a second quicker than that of Anna Pavlova in the previous contest.
With his stamina assured at this trip, he was given a predictably confident ride by Seb Sanders, who struck for home two furlongs out. A relentless galloper, he stayed on strongly and the handicapper's likely reaction to a four-length victory in such a competitive handicap is likely to force his trainer's hand towards Listed or Group races.
Luca Cumani's previous winners of this race have had mixed fortunes subsequently, but although he is unlikely to be another Japan Cup winner like Alkaased, Mad Rush is a very likeable sort. This performance clearly suggests he is improving, while also giving a boost to the efforts of Punjabi and Sugar Ray, who had beaten him this season - racing post.
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