The 2023 quinella in the riding ranks exploded out of the starting blocks like they could not wait to renew their rivalry at the new season's launch on Jan 6.
Fresh off his fifth crown, Brazil's Manoel Nunes rang up a quartet of winners. But runner-up, France's Marc Lerner, was not to be outdone, striking back with an identical score.
It was actually Lerner who drew first blood, snaring the first three race in rapid-fire succession with The Shadow ($25), September ($31) and Flaming Migliore ($18).
Nunes got going later in Race 6 with Golden Brown ($16), before Lerner promptly restored the three-win lead with Khao Manee ($39) in the next.
Nunes did not take it lying down, though, banging in three more Lord's Command ($14), Super Salute ($13) in the Group 3 New Year Cup (1,200m) and Flying Nemo ($11) in the last race.
Such big hauls are a dime a dozen for Nunes, not quite as much for Lerner. But the former Germany-based hoop earned the rarer distinction of chalking up back-to-back four-timers on Sept 9 and 16, 2023.
Modest to a fault as usual, Lerner said luck played a big part, though he did have an inkling of a good harvest from his book of nine rides.
The Falcon Stable-owned September was the winner he rated with the most upside.
Denne historien er fra January 08, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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