Brilliant debutant Boy Crush became the first Geisel Park-conceived winner by Manhattan Rain in the Magic Millions Plate (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.
Boy Crush (Photo / Western Racepix) is also the first of the WA-bred Manhattan Rain juveniles to appear in Perth and trainer Luke Fernie has fingers crossed for a trouble-free preparation towards the RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) worth $250,000 at Pinjarra on February 14.
“He’s the spitting image of his older brother Man Crush and has the same quirks,” Fernie said. “They both had behaviour issues early on but we taught this one some manners and kept him a colt. It’s five weeks to the Magic Millions and we won’t push him so hopefully his shins stay okay.”
Winning jockey Holly Watson labelled Boy Crush a professional when interviewed following a convincing victory over They’reallsisters (Splintex) and Optimus Prime (Safeguard). “He was in good shape going down the gates and settled in a nice spot. The horse in front of me wasn’t taking us anywhere so I pulled out on the corner and was surprised how well he quickened.
“Luke has done a great job with this colt and he feels like a readymade 2yo.”
Greenfields Lodge owner Tony Patrizi bred the brothers using Manhattan Rain over his mare Crushed (All Too Hard). She foaled Man Crush first-up when Manhattan Rain was based in Victoria and he ran fourth from a wide barrier in the 2022 MM 2YO Classic.
He’s a Fernie favourite and has banked $930,000 topped by a Listed victory in the 2025 Miss Andretti Stakes (1200m). Meanwhile, Patrizi has continued to support Manhattan Rain at Geisel Park. Crushed has a Manhattan Rain yearling filly at his Capel nursery and the mare is back in foal to him off a September 5 cover earlier this season.
Patrizi bought into the family with a $350,000 bid for their NZ Group 1-winning second dam Juice (Bertolini) when she was carrying Crushed at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Fellow Geisel Park sire Winning Rupert weighed in with a winning double last week courtesy of Mrs Penny Cracker at Gawler and Tonneofgrit on the Sunshine Coast. Geisel Park-bred graduate Elegant Indi was also in the frame when successful first-up at Pinjarra on New Year’s Eve for Greenfields Lodge.
