In-form Miniature Man looks good for Yvonne Mattis Cup

MINIATURE MAN trained great and ran accordingly from an inside pocket behind 10-length winner BLUE VINYL last time out. Returning at the exact weight, drawn widest in Saturday’s Yvonne Mattis Cup, should hand claiming rider Abigail Able her second win in seven months with the 2021 Guineas winner.

MINIATURE MAN ended last season on a high, returning from a two-month break in October with Able aboard to chase down stablemate SUPER DUPER at six and a half furlongs, winning at a king’s ransom of 9-2.

Displaying his class next time out, MINIATURE MAN voluntarily stepped up in class in the November 12 Jamaica Cup. He closed into third at nine and a half furlongs behind runaway winner ATOMICA, finishing ahead of the who’s who of grade one, including CALCULUS, KING ARTHUR, and BLUE VINYL.

MINIATURE MAN franked that run with a battling victory next out against stablemate LURE OF LUCY, beating favourite BRINKS into third place at nine furlongs and 25 yards on Mouttet Mile Day, December 3.

MAHOGANY’s pace ripped the field apart in the December 31 Ian Levy, sentencing MINIATURE MAN to last. He, however, returned a month later, on his 2023 debut to place fourth behind in-form I’VE GOT MAGIC, DUKE, and LURE OF LUCY at a mile in open-allowance company.

Throw MINIATURE MAN’s next two races out the window. On February 23, his stablemate KING ARTHUR was fancied but lost to CALCULUS at nine and a half furlongs. Next out, April 8, another stablemate, I AM FRED, stole the show with a commanding victory over RUNAWAY ALGO, which he franked with a follow-up win against MAHOGANY.

MINIATURE MAN’s run against BLUE VINYL three weeks ago, after galloping six furlongs in 1:13.3 at exercise, points to him being in tip-top shape. Able did her best from post-position three but had to wait until space appeared off the home turn.

Though no match for BLUE VINYL, MINIATURE MAN’s darting move inside to go third off the home turn kept him strong in the battle for the minors, flashing past the post with a half-length separating him from runner-up PERFECT BREW and third-place I REALISE.

Able has no traffic to encounter and should be sitting chilly leaving the half-mile marker with a bead on the leaders.