Geisel Park resident Manhattan Rain can continue climbing the WA Sires’ premiership ladder on Saturday with his star sprinter Jigsaw gunning for a Group 1 in the $1 million William Reid Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield.
And his Group 1-winning mare Benagil is also primed to keep the till ticking over at Group 2 level in the $300,000 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at The Heath.
Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) is one of several stallions in a log-jam for second spot on the table behind Playing God and trainer Cindy Alderson is confident Jigsaw can back-up off a seven-day turnaround to bank the winning purse of $600,000.
“He’s not a young horse and he’s been in work for quite a while but he certainly didn’t suffer any ill-effects from winning the VOBIS Gold Sprint at Caulfield last Saturday. He’s in great order so there’s no reason to stop him.
“He’s enjoying racing and has earned a crack at a race like the William Reid. He’s a bit hard to place now, especially with his rating, but Logan (Bates) knows the horse and his quirks so well.”
Jigsaw (7g Manhattan Rain – Demandz by Lonhro) is gunning for six in a row highlighted by the G1 Sistema Railway Stakes (1200) in New Zealand and Bates will have to navigate his way to a prominent position from the outside barrier.
Jigsaw (pictured) goes well right-handed but the G1 T J Smith (1200m) at Randwick on April 4 isn’t under consideration, however, Alderson did mention the possibility of travelling west for the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) in Perth on April 18.
Benagil (4m Manhattan Rain – Des Moines by War) will be racing third-up from a spell in the Sunline Stakes and she won the G1 Australasian Oaks (2400m) at Morphettville when racing for the third time with trainer Glen Thompson this time last year.
Manhattan Rain’s other Victorina-based black-type galloper Sabaj was last seen finishing fourth behind Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) in the $2 million All Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington. He holds a Group 1 nom for the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 4.
Cranbourne trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman are also pleased with the progress of their Manhattan Rain 4yo gelding Everain who won for the second time this prep in the Tobin Brothers Hcp (1400m) at Sandown Hillside last week. “He’s by Manhattan Rain and is big and strong and should handle a mile,” Sam Freedman said. “He was challenged but kept finding and it was his class that made all the difference.”
Everain is one of 271 individual winners by Manhattan Rain and that can improve on the home front when Fred Kersley presents his unraced 2yo colt Light Of The World. He was caught three-wide throughout in a Belmont barrier trial on Monday and wasn’t tested by Holly Nottle when finishing fourth behind by God’s Hammer (Playing God).
Light Of The World’s Flemington winning dam Collodi (Testa Rossa) foaled Hong Kong sprinter Eroico (Starcraft) first-up at stud and her first WA-bred winner Great Deal (A Lot) has been nominated to score again at Albany next Thursday, March 26.
