MINERVINI CHASING BACK-UP STAKES TRUMPH WITH WYONG WINNER

MARK Minervini hasn’t hesitated to chase a quick back-up stakes triumph with Smiling Prophet at Wyong tomorrow.

After the mare scored there at last Sunday’s Ladies Day meeting, the Newcastle trainer set his sights on doubling up in the $250,000 Group 3 Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at the Cup fixture.

And he says the barrier is the key to her chances.

“Smiling Prophet drew barrier one when she won a Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap over the same distance,” Minervini said today.

“She was very impressive, and has come up with barrier two for the Mona Lisa.

“Of course it’s a step up in class, but she has done well this week and barriers are so important at Wyong.

“Smiling Prophet races well at the track (three of her nine wins have been there), so why not have a crack!

“She is in really good order, and it’s not a capacity field (three withdrawals have already reduced the line-up to 11).”

Rory Hutchings rode Smiling Prophet in her three and a quarter lengths’ romp last Sunday, and has the mount again.

“Chad Schofield was initially booked but his manager rang to say he would not be able to get down to the mare’s 55kg,” Minervini explained.

“As it turned out, Rory is going to be overweight anyway on Smiling Prophet, but at least he knows her.”

Minervini is seeking his first Group 3 success in NSW since the now retired Hosier (Jason Collett) took the Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Royal Randwick in August 2023, defeating subsequent Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cp (2300m) winner Military Mission.

Smiling Prophet is an $81 outsider for the Mona Lisa in stark contrast to her $4.40 starting price last Sunday.

The daughter of Divine Prophet has been a good performer for connections.

Minervini purchased her for $35,000 at the 2021 Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney, and she has earned around $250,000.

In an open Mona Lisa market, there is little between the first five horses in TAB.com.au’s prices.

Modella (Zac Lloyd) heads betting at $4.20, ahead of last year’s Newcastle Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) winner Oh Diamond Lil and last start Wyong winner Just Glamorous ($4.60), Cigar Flick ($5) and Mareth ($6).

Mareth’s trainer Michael Freedman won last year’s Mona Lisa with Just Feelin’ Lucky, who defeated 13 rivals.

Smiling Prophet is one of four provincial and country acceptors in Wyong’s fillies and mares’ feature.

Wyong’s Tracey Bartley has Titanium Miss, withdrawn from the Springtime Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m), Hawkesbury’s Michael Vella has Cosmeena (Reece Jones), and Taree’s Craig Ruttley has Acappella Sun (Ash Morgan).

The barrier gods have shone brightly on Minervini with his three runners at the Cup meeting.

As well as Smiling Prophet, Nautical Twilight (Hutchings) and Bold Design (Tim Clark) both drew the inside barrier in the Midway 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1350m) and Provincial 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) respectively. STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS.