Impressive new winner for Manhattan Rain
The exuberant claret and gold silks of Qatar Bloodstock entered the Australian city winner’s circle for the second time in eight days when Manhattan Rain’s 2YO daughter Crafty won by 3 lengths in Melbourne on Wednesday.
The Arrowfield-bred filly powered home by 3 lengths over 1200 metres on the Slow6 track at Sandown-Lakeside, sprinting her final 600 metres in 33.53 seconds, the best time of the day. Race favourite Puzzle was second and another Arrowfield graduate, Electric Charge (Charge Forward-Miss Bussell) was third for the Robbie Griffiths stable.
Like last week’s Sandown winner Cautious, Crafty was purchased at the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale by David Redvers for the bloodstock investment company established in 2010 by Sheikh Fahad al Thani and his brothers.
Crafty, from the Sadler’s Wells mare Spirited Dancer, was bought from Arrowfield for $150,000 and was making her first appearance since a pair of third placings in February and March.
Her trainer Robert Smerdon said, “I must say I conceded the top two runners (Puzzle and Fairy Star) might be too good for her but she stepped up and she has always shown ability.
“I wasn’t quite sure she had made the improvement but she was terrific. We are thinking that she will be better at middle distance and beyond, so it is a case of seeing how far we can get her out, possibly over a mile this preparation.
“I think spring may be too close so we will keep her going and look at the autumn with her.”
Crafty is the third winner for first season sire Manhattan Rain, also represented by the Mick Price-trained Moonovermanhattan (SAJC National S. G3 on debut), winning filly Downtown Manhattan and stakes-placed colts Chengdu (in Perth) and Light Up Manhattan (in Melbourne & Adelaide).
Manhattan Rain, All American, I Am Invincible and Denman are the only first season sires that have left Australian stakeswinners this season.
Crafty is a half-sister to Flemington Group 3 winner Lunar Rise (by Starcraft) whose full brother was purchased at this year’s Inglis Easter Sale by Badger’s Bloodstock. Spirited Dancer, from the immediate family of champion Peintre Celebre, has a weanling filly by Gio Ponti and is in foal to Animal Kingdom.
