So much going for this son of Encosta de Lago

As a son of Encosta de Lago takes charge of the First Season Sires’ table, the first runners by his only Australian 2YO Group 1-winning colt are keenly awaited.

His name is Manhattan Rain, and his first crop juveniles will race next season from the stables of trainers such as Chris Waller, Hawkes Racing, Gerald Ryan, Gai Waterhouse, Mick Price, David Hayes, Paul Messara & Bjorn Baker.

Early feedback from breakers includes this assessment of the Manhattan Rain-Magic Fingers colt passed on by Chris Ward of Triple Crown Syndications: “A real athlete with the right attitude, keen to get into his work and he moved along really well.” From the precocious Easy Date family of Not A Single Doubt, Zizou and Snippets, this colt will be trained by Gerald Ryan.

Manhattan Rain fashioned a first-class Group 1 record in Sydney and Melbourne, beginning as a brilliant and resilient 2YO when he won the Sires’ Produce Stakes and placed in the Golden Slipper & Champagne Stakes. He then trained on at three to place in both the Caulfield Guineas (to Starspangledbanner) & the Cox Plate (to So You Think).

Manhattan Rain’s genetics are as desirable as his performance. He’s by a champion sire from a family that specialises in outstanding stallions, including his half-brother Redoute’s Choice (105 SW), Umatilla (33 SW), Spinning World (43 SW) and El Gran Senor (54 SW).

It’s also a family that has a proven affinity with Danehill, who does not appear in Manhattan Rain’s pedigree. That increases his appeal for breeders, because 22% of Australian broodmares covered in 2012 have Danehill somewhere in their pedigrees.

Arrowfield and Manhattan Rain’s owner-breeder Muzaffar Yaseen (Teeley Assets) have backed him strongly from the start, sending more than 80 mares to him in his first three years at stud, with 30 mares confirmed for his 2013 book.

The quality of the support that Arrowfield, Teeley Assets and other leading Australian breeders have given Manhattan Rain is evident in the list of older siblings to his rising 2YOs. They include Group 1 winners Absolutely, Cheeky Choice & Redoute’s Dancer; Group 2 winners Colorado Claire, My Emotion, Quays & Vormista; Group 3 winners Impressive Jeuney & Lunar Rise; and Listed stakeswinners Burgeis, Cabernet, Come Hither, Crack A Roadie, Excuse My French, Fun in Flight, Members Joy, Shamillion & Warpath.

Manhattan Rain stands at Arrowfield in 2013 at a fee of $27,500 inc. GST.