Sandown Cup next for Manzor Blue
Palmerston North mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) claimed valuable Australian black type when runner-up in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday, and she will now try to go one better in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) later this month.
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing began to dream of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their mare following her victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and runner-up effort in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) earlier this year, and while she failed to make the field, they were rapt with their consolation prize on Saturday behind Pinhole.
“We are absolutely over the moon,” Go Racing’s General Manager Matt Allnutt said. “To get a Group Three placing at Flemington on the last day of the carnival is massive.
“We have always had a lot of confidence and faith in her, and we were hoping the race would be run to suit with the top weight leading and setting a strong gallop, and that is how it turned out.
“I thought she was magnificent, just the way she hit the line and finished the race off. It was such a good result.
“We were disappointed we didn’t get into the Melbourne Cup, but we always went over there knowing that if she didn’t we had back-up options, with Saturday’s race being the main one.
“We are happy to take the consolation prize of a second placing in a Group Three.”
Allnutt said the Lisa Latta-trained mare was also able to silence a few doubters with her performance.
“There have been the doubters in the horse, with the New Zealand form, but she certainly showed that she is a quality stayer,” he said.
“Lisa and I watched the race together at Riccarton on Saturday and she said to me after the race that it is great to get Australian black type, but to get it over 2600m adds another string to her bow.”
The Sandown Cup on November 28 now presents as the perfect finale for Manzor Blue’s spring campaign, and Allnutt said she will likely target the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in autumn before being set on another Melbourne Cup campaign.
“She is going to go to the Sandown Cup, over two miles, and we will take stock from there,” Allnutt said. “I think ultimately we will look at the Sydney Cup, and we will have another crack at the Melbourne Cup.
“I think we can have a bit of optimism about getting her into the Melbourne Cup. From what we saw from her on Saturday, she can certainly be competitive in it.”
Meanwhile, Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) placegetter Omni Man (Invincible Spirit) has gone for a spell following his last-placed finish in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on Saturday, and he will join Chris Waller’s Sydney stable.
“Dylan Browne McMonagle (jockey) said he was shortening stride all the way up the straight, so there was obviously something going on, but it’s nothing serious,” Allnutt said. “He will now transfer to Chris Waller and he will be given a decent break.
“Based on what he did in the Geelong Cup, he has got huge earning potential over the next 12 months.”
Go Racing’s Melbourne Cup representative Soul Of Spain has also headed to the spelling paddock.
“He has gone for a good, decent spell,” Allnutt said. “It was great to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup, we have now ticked that box and the next box to tick is winning it. He did us proud, he just over raced a bit in the running, which told in the final stages. He is a good horse and hopefully he is back there this time next year.”
Go Racing did have success at Flemington during Cup Week, with the Chris Waller-trained Nobler (Amaron) scoring over 1800m on Oaks Day.
“We had a function with Jospeh O’Brien up in Auckland and we all watched the race together,” Allnutt said. “He used to train Nobler, and the hot favourite (Perisher) as well. He said it would take a decent horse to beat the favourite, and I think we beat it fair and square.
“Who knows what the ceiling is with him. He has won four of his last five and is absolutely flying. He is a quality horse. It was a real thrill to watch it with Joseph and hugely exciting to have a winner on Oaks Day at Flemington.”
Back in New Zealand, Allnutt said the Stephen Marsh-trained So Fear (NZ) (Ardrossan) won’t back up in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) after finishing 11th in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“We thought about backing her up on Saturday, but she left a bit of feed on Saturday night, she lightened off a touch, and as always is the case with us, the horse comes first,” Allnutt said. “She is on a plane back to Auckland today.”
Go Racing will still be represented on the final day of New Zealand Cup Week by the Charlotte Littlefield-trained Tajanis (Australia) in the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m), while the Kylie Hoskin-trained With Grace (NZ) (Ocean Park) requires one withdrawal to make the 18-horse field.
“With Grace has never raced over two miles and you never know until they do it, but she looks like a horse that will get it, she just relaxes so well and builds into her races,” Allnutt said. “In her track work she has been flying, so we are really happy with her.
“We are happy with Tajanis as well. Kylie has been looking after him also on behalf of Charlotte Littlefield and he is just a genuine two miler.
“It is a hard race to win, like any two-mile race, but I think we have got two live chances.”
