A winning week for Manhattan Rain
It’s been a very good week for second season sire Manhattan Rain, with three winners in eight days, most recently Manna Trust at Mornington on Wednesday.
Trained by David Weir for a syndicate managed by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Manna Trust went into the $25,000 1200-metre maiden with placings at Donald and Swan Hill. Jockey Ben Melham settled him midfield, peeled out round the turn and sent him forward in the straight where he knuckled down to fight it out with the favourite Vienna Prince (by Snitzel) for a game, half-head win.
Manna Trust was a $90,000 purchase from Musk Creek Farm at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, and Musk Creek’s David Kobritz & Teresa Poon are among his large group of owners.
Manna Trust’s dam Entrust (by Danehill) is a city-winning half-sister to Singapore champion Big Maverick.
Manhattan Rain’s owner-breeder Muzaffar Yaseen enjoyed his first success with the Group 1 winner’s progeny when the filly Democrat Queen scored over 1600 metres at Echuca on Saturday. Trained by Mick Price, she is the first runner and winner for her dam Zodiac Queen (by King’s Best), a six-time winner in Adelaide and also dam of a Manhattan Rain yearling colt.
Zodiac Queen, again in foal to Manhattan Rain, was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock at the Teeley Dispersal in May this year.
The Mick Price stable also produced the gelding Manhattan Avenue (ex Tizzy May by Danzero) for a comfortable win at Bendigo on 10 September, and Moonovermanhattan (ex Lunapur by Flying Spur) who put up a staunch effort for fourth in last Saturday’s VRC Living Legends S. LR.
Manhattan Avenue, accepted for this Saturday’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale Bonus race at Caulfield, and Moonovermanhattan, a Group 3 winner last season, are both among the nominations for the Caulfield Guineas G1 on 11 October.
Manhattan Rain’s daughter Crafty, also a stakeswinner last season, makes her 3YO debut over 1400 metres at this Saturday’s Caulfield meeting, and is nominated for the Thousand Guineas G1.
