Big debut effort by Manhattan Rain colt

Trainer Gai Waterhouse’s pre-race notes on 2YO colt Giuliani turned out to be spot on: 

Giuliani was third in his first race course experience, a trial at Randwick, and has come on nicely since then. He wears blinkers for the first time and is expected to run a big race having shown such promise in his trial.

However, the 1000-metre race didn’t unfold smoothly for the son of first season sire Manhattan Rain.

Giuliani began slowly and had to be urged forward by jockey Adam Hyeronimous to get in touch with the leaders. He cornered awkwardly, and then had a bumping duel with Unencumbered who kicked clear by a length. A determined finish by Giuliani halved that margin by the winning post and although Hyeronimous protested against the winner, the placings were allowed to stand.

It was a good effort by Giuliani, purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $110,000 from the Newgate Farm draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale and named for the famous New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. His dam Sea Eye Pea is a city-winning daughter of Commands from the family of Group 2 winners Mamzelle Pedrille, O’Lonhro and I Am Invincible.

Star Thoroughbreds, purchaser and syndicator of brilliant juveniles Sebring and Driefontein, have already opened their 2013/14 attack on 2YO stakes racing with the colt Law, winner of the ATC Breeders’ Plate LR.

Giuliani is only the second starter by Manhattan Rain who began his own racing career in the January of his 2YO year, and progressed to win the AJC Sires’ Produce S. G1 and Skyline S. G3.