The Manhattan Rains pour it on at Flemington

Top four finishes by Manhattan Rain’s three stakes runners on Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington showed their readiness for upcoming Spring Classic engagements.

Qatar Bloodstock’s filly Crafty (ex Spirited Dancer by Sadler’s Wells) powered home for third, beaten only a head and a short head by her game stablemate Fontein Ruby and the favourite Maastricht in the $200,000 VRC Edward Manifold S. 1600m G2.

Crafty settled near the rear of the field, making ground around the turn and doing her best work over the final 600 metres, running it in 34.09, faster than both the winner and the runner-up.  “A very good run” was jockey Craig Williams’ summation of Crafty’s effort.

Already the winner of the VRC Gibson Carmichael S. LR as a late 2YO, Crafty’s principal Spring target is the $1 million VRC Oaks G1 on 6 November.

The Mick Price-trained colt Manhattan Avenue (ex Tizzy May by Danzero) settled fifth on the rail in the $120,000 VRC Yellowglen Vintage S. 1400m LR, then pushed forward between horses soon after the turn and hit the lead 200 metres from the post. Stratum Star emerged quickly behind him and caught him just short of the post to win by a half-neck, with two lengths to Kapset in third place.

Light Up Manhattan (ex Luminata by Zabeel) was sixth during the running of the $120,000 UCI S. 1800m LR and galloped home staunchly for fourth, though well behind the first three. He and Manhattan Avenue are both nominated for the $1.5 million Victoria Derby G1 on 1 November.

Manhattan Rain now has 5 stakes performers from his first crop, headed by Group 3 winner Moonovermanhattan, second in the MVRC Stutt S. G2 on 26 September and also a Derby contender.