The ace autumn for Victorian horseman Darren Weir continued on Golden Slipper Day with his fit grey Master Of Arts confirming a shot at the Sydney Cup 2018 thanks to a nice win in Saturday’s NE Manion Cup.

Darren Weir enjoyed another NE Manion Cup win with his 2018 Sydney Cup-bound grey Master Of Arts on Slipper Day. Photo: Steve Hart.

The six-year-old son of Mastercraftsman was racing in in Sydney for the first time after a lead-up second in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on March 3 at Morphettville.

The team made the call after that to bypass the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) and give the horse a three week turnaround into today’s Group 3 $150,000 NE Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

It was a plan that panned out to perfection with the gallant stayer given a gun ride in the mile and a half handicap by jockey Damian Lane who had been thrown from his mount Harlow Gold the race prior.

Lane had Master Of Arts settled just off the pace around fifth in the run as the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Multitude led the field around.

John O’Shea’s progressive Lonhro five-year-old Peribsen was also settled right up on the speed going up to the leader turning out of the straight the first time, while the Chris Waller-trained raced favourite Alward was right back to last.

Aqlaam five-year-old Alward on the back to two minor placings at Randwick this time in still had all the ground to make up running into the straight second last and going to the far outside for his run.

Singing, who had travelled nicely with cover fourth the outside throughout, hit the front but Master Of Arts was challenging.

Alward tried to pick up and run down Master Of Arts once the grey got to the front inside the final furlong, but couldn’t quite get there and had to settle for second a half-length off the NE Manion Cup winner.

In an eye-catching third to round out the trifecta was Peribsen who held on for the minor placing after fighting back well in the closing stages.

Master Of Arts was the fit horse in the race after a lead-up trial at Warrnambool and always travelled like the winner, also getting the conditions to suit on a rain-affected track.

Weir’s stable representative Jarrod McLean confirmed plans to head to the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick on April 7 with Master Of Arts next race before the seven day turnaround into the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) over the two miles.

“It was the right decision to miss the Adelaide Cup,” he said post-win.

“To get that win here today is very special.

“I think the Chairman’s in a couple of weeks and then it is a week into the Sydney Cup.”

Before the NE Manion Cup results Master Of Arts was at $67 in pre-field Sydney Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au and has subsequently firmed into $21.

Weir won last year’s NE Manion Cup with Big Duke (2017) who went on to win the Chairman’s and then finish third in the Sydney Cup trifecta.

To back Master Of Arts next race during ‘The Championships’ and for access to the best 2018 Sydney Cup odds online visit Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 NE Manion Cup Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 3 – 24/03/2018