Choice win by Manhattan Rain 2YO

The Spring prospects for Manhattan Rain’s son Man of Choice look bright after his excellent win at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Jockey Peter Wells settled the 2YO gelding settled at the rear of the field, sent him forward before the turn and lined him up as the widest of the 13 runners at the top of the straight. Man of Choice picked up impressively to win by almost a half-length from Republican and the dead-heaters Credit Card Miss & More Than Fabulous. 

Watch Man of Choice’s debut win here.

It was Man of Choice’s second run for trainer Luke Price after a debut fifth at Warwick Farm in March behind Redzel and Japonisme who won at Rosehill on Saturday.

Bred by Bob Guth and Nick Curtis, Man of Choice is out of the Melbourne winner Moonsong, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice from the family of Group 1 winners Ofcourseican & Gimmethegreenlight and Group-winning fillies Gregers & Girl Guide.

The opportunity for a 2×3 double-up of Shantha’s Choice through her sons Manhattan Rain and Redoute’s Choice has been taken by a number of breeders and three of 7 runners bred that way have so far won: Man of Choice & 3YO filly Manhattan Moon in Australia and 2YO colt Platinum Dragon in New Zealand. 

Man of Choice was offered under the Newhaven Park banner at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale and bought for $60,000 by Andrew Rose who also races Group 1 winner Almalad. Man of Choice is among the first acceptances for the new season’s first Group 1 3YO race, the $1 million ATC Golden Rose Stakes on 12 September.

Manhattan Rain has two other first acceptors for that race, the unraced gelding Moonlight Rain from the Gillian Heinrich stable, and the filly Manhattan Fever, who has had one run for Team Hawkes.

With 32 winners (including three stakeswinners) and $1.8 million prizemoney, Manhttan Rain is among Australia’s top five 2nd Season sires in 2014/15.