Second To Nun challenging the boys in Group 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Saturday

She’s the only mare in the field and South Australian galloper Second To Nun is out to trounce her male rivals in Saturday’s Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley.

She’s the only mare in the field and South Australian galloper Second To Nun is out to trounce her male rivals in Saturday’s Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley.

The progressive five-year-old lines up for her third consecutive run across the border this preparation for Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea after a strong yet luckless run when fourth in the Seymour Cup earlier this month.

The mare cornered full of running in the listed feature yet was held up until the 200m, eventually getting clear and working home strongly to be beaten two-and-a-half lengths.

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“We were delighted with her (last-start), obviously she was unlucky but that’s her pattern, so you are going to find some bad luck at some stage,” O’Shea said.

“We were happy with how she went, but she could’ve done with a run a bit earlier.”

With Seymour in the past, all eyes move to a second crack at The Valley following her fifth in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes in September.

It's Second To Nun's Leon Macdonald Stakes! 🔥

Congratulations to breeder & part-owner, @eaglepunt 👏 @KaylaCrowther2@Clarken_Racingpic.twitter.com/YSlBndnKxE

— Racing.com (@Racing) August 24, 2024

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“Will’s very happy with her, it’s a harder race but we are hopeful she’s going to run well,” O’Shea said.

“I think she likes when they run along a bit, obviously around there (The Valley) you are guaranteed that they are gonna gallop, which is important for her, she loves it when they go at a good tempo and she can have a crack at them later on.”

The versatile mare has won over 2050m, winning the Strathalbyn Cup earlier this year, but her best performances have come over 1400m, a distance at which she is a stakes winner.

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O’Shea was confident that Second To Nun could run out a strong 2040m against quality opposition.

“At this stage of her prep, she can,” he said.

“When she relaxes, I think she can run it out, once she relaxes early I think she’ll finish it off.”

Star hoop Jamie Kah knows the mare well and will pilot Second To Nun for a fourth time on Saturday.

“It’s good when they know them, obviously she’s got a great pair of hands, the horse will relax for her, that’s a big plus,” O’Shea said.

“It’s a good race, but we think she can run well.”

Second To Nun is a $5.50 chance with Sportsbet fixed odds for Saturday’s JRA Cup.

Originally published as Second To Nun challenging the boys in Group 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Saturday