Laced Up Heels is favoured to continue Geisel Park’s winning run in the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot this Saturday.
She firmed into $2.60 with TABtouch after it was announced Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni) would be reserved for the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) on November 19. Geisel’s ultra-impressive daughter of Toronado (Ire) had won their first encounter in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day.
“Laced Up Heels and Man Crush are among the best in my 3yo team,” trainer Luke Fernie said. “They will go a little bit further in trip and to have one of them in The Pinnacles would be fantastic.”
Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg races Laced Up Heels and Man Crush’s sire Manhattan Rain is covering his first book at the Myalup stud this season at $8,800 alongside All American ($5,500).
Manhattan Rain sired a third winner in four days this week when New York Hurricane broke his maiden in the Furphy Plate (1400m) at Pakenham on Thursday.
“He’s maturing into a nice horse,” trainer Liam Howley said. “He was left in front a long way out and knuckled down nicely for ‘Froggy’ (Newitt).
“He had a good look around once he got to the front but was still too tough. We tried blinkers in The Showdown during his first prep and they didn’t work. We’ve been patient and there’s more wins to come.”
Howley has set the promising 3yo for the G2 Sandown Guineas (1600m). It’s worth $300,000 and will be run at Caulfield this year on Saturday, November 26.
New York Hurricane sold for $70,000 as a yearling at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. His dam Al Dhakira (Elusive Quality) is a USA-bred winner and a close relation of Swettenham Stud stallion Puissance de Lune (Shamardal).
“He was a bit stiff at Cranbourne last time but did everything right today,” Newitt said after the chestnut outlasted Gold Governor (Vancouver). “I came here confident from a good gate and he feels progressive. He bounced out and put himself into the race and then they cranked it up mid-race.
“That probably dragged a big finish out of him but he did dig deep when the other one was in for the fight. He will get further and he’s a horse to follow!”
