Manawanui On Target For Group One Return
- Monday, 02 March 2015 07:32
Manawanui's performance in a barrier trial will determine whether he lines up in a Group One race four days later.
The six-year-old will run in a 1030m trial at Rosehill on Tuesday ahead of his planned return in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.
Trainer Ron Leemon used the same method in September, giving the gelding a trial on the Tuesday before he won the Group Three Bill Ritchie on the Saturday of the same week.
Manawanui ridden by jockey Glyn Schofield
The winner of the 2011 Golden Rose, Manawanui has had his problems in the years since his Group One win with various injuries.
He also had an enforced lay-off after he suffered a bleeding attack in September 2012 when unplaced in The Shorts.
"If he trials well and we are happy with him he will run on Saturday," Leemon said.
"Tye Angland rides him in the trial and again on Saturday if we decide to run.
"At this stage I am happy with him and although it's a hard race, if he gets a soft run I think he will be in the finish."
Fellow Group One winners Cosmic Endeavour, Criterion, Royal Descent and Sacred Falls were among the 10 Canterbury Stakes entries taken on Monday.
Underlining the quality of the race, the other five - Avoid Lightning, Catkins, Fontelina, Hooked and Leebaz - have all been Group One-placed.
The Les Bridge-trained Avoid Lightning is also one of 15 nominations for the Challenge Stakes over 1000 metres.
Two of the past three winners, Villa Verde (2014) and Rain Affair (2012) are in the mix along with Group One winners Famous Seamus, Miracles Of Life and Tiger Tees.
Avoid Lightning finished third behind Catkins in the Group Two Millie Fox on February 21 and has yet to win beyond 1200m.
