Bright forecast for Manhattan Rain winners

Major Spring 3YO races are possibilities for both of Manhattan Rain’s latest winners, the filly Talisa and the colt Light Up Manhattan.

Talisa (ex Lustre Lady by Flying Spur) lined up over 1400 metres on Sunday at Hawkesbury where she jumped well from barrier 11 and settled in fourth position behind the early leader Our Catch.

Jockey Winona Costin began to urge the filly forward round the turn. She picked up ground steadily, then dashed home over the final 100 metres to score by a length from her stablemate and Arrowfield graduate Our Catch (by Flying Spur) who fought on gamely for second.

Talisa was a $115,000 Star Thoroughbreds purchase from the Torryburn Stud draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Her win certainly pleased trainer Gai Waterhouse, who considers her a likely staying filly. She noted, “The win was so dominant that talk immediately turned to some potential big spring targets.”

Light Up Manhattan (ex Luminata by Zabeel) showed ability as a 2YO with two Listed stakes placings from three starts, including a half-length second to recent 3YO stakeswinner Merion.

Sent on Sunday to Wangaratta by his trainer Ciaron Maher for a 1590-metre maiden, Light Up Manhattan scored by a long neck  from Ocean Frontier with Berserk 5 lengths away third.

Maher said, “He’s a work in progress, he’s still green and learning his craft, but he was ridden quietly off a slow pace.

“I said to Mark (Zahra) to get him to a nice bit of galloping room and thought his ability would get him over the line. I think he’s got a bright future. He was bought as a Derby prospect and we’re still going that way.”

Light Up Manhattan was a $36,000 purchase from the Supreme Thoroughbreds draft at the 2013 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

Manhattan Rain now leads the Second Season Sires’ list by winners with a tally of six – five of them successful in the past 12 days.