Manetti - Tribute to a Trier
- Wednesday, 15 January 2003 00:00
One of the favourite horses of Adelaide racing Manetti was forced into retirement after suffering his second bleeding attack during the running of the Flying Hcp on December 7.
Manetti was bred by George Dawson who trained and in partnership with WHY Khoo and GB Goh owned Manetti throughout his career. The 7th foal of Indeed a Lady the brown gelding was by Will Dancer sire of multiple stakeswinner Will Fly.
Manetti made his raceday debut as a 2yo on February 14 1998. Up against 5 other rivals he was sent out the evens favourite in a Class D 2yo race over 1000m at Ceduna. He won but not as expected in fact he made headlines as he dashed away from the opposition to score by an incredible 22 lengths from Chilandie Lass.
Ten days later he lined up at Port Lincoln over 1000m and was sent out odds on favourite. Again despite jumping awkwardly he toyed with his rivals racing away to win by 5 lengths from future city class galloper Mr Iceman with a further 3 ½ lengths to Naginty Star in third place.
Returning to Port Lincoln a fortnight later Manetti was stepped up in distance in a 2yo Plate over 1250m in a set weight event. This time he was too fast for Dayna's Pride winning by nearly 4 lengths with Big Income a further 2 ½ lengths in third. He was then spelled.
By now Manetti had proved that he had the class to step up to city company. His first start in Adelaide was in a 1000m 2yo event at Cheltenham on July 11. Manetti flew the start and raced well clear of his 16 opponents. Around the turn he kicked and put a space on any of those chasing. By the 50m he looked home despite the chestnut filly Nina Haraka running on hard. Then in the final strides he started to tire as the filly was at top speed and they flashed across the line together. The photo showed Nina Haraka had just got there in time from the West Coast 2yo with over three lengths back to McKalmar in third.
The run was enough for Manetti to start in the Group 3 Dermody Stakes against a class field of speedy 2 & 3yos. He jumped to the front but was attacked for the lead throughout and wilted in the run to the line as Mint of Gold defeated Hand Pass with Odysseus third. He was then sent for a 5 month break.
After crossing the line with speedy She's Discreet in a trial Manetti lined up over 1000m at Cheltenham. He jumped well but Mint of Gold held the front and the leading pair stayed that way as they covered the final 600m in 33.62 with Mint of Gold winning by 1 ½ lengths from Manetti with Lady Falconette running on for third.
A fortnight later he lined up at Victoria Park but jumped awkwardly as Mint of Gold again took the front running soon Manetti moved to second but both were run down in the final stages by the filly Astralita. Bad luck again struck at Morphettville where Manetti blundered at the start settling in second place before passing the post in third spot behind Tolleshunt.
Back to Victoria Park and the straight 1000m and Manetti was sent out 3/1 equal favourite. Settling back in 5th position he worked forward during the race to race away to win by 1 ½ lengths from Black Glamour. Three weeks later he lined up over 1200m at Morphettville and after settling in second place hit the front to race away winning by 2 ½ lengths from Dubai Sioux. It was then decided to try him over 1600m at Victoria Park in the Group 3 Adelaide Guineas. Manetti led from the start but lost ground to third then wilted passing the post in 7th position as Nina Haraka raced to victory from Raja Jazz. After that race he was restricted to races up to only 1450m.
Manetti was then sent to Oakbank where he started over 1100m as the short priced favourite. Carrying 57kg he led from the start but in the run to the line Hasty Jest challenged strongly. Manetti fought back and they passed the post together. The photo showed Manetti in front by a short head with 1 ½ lengths to Lord Roseland third. Three weeks later he returned to Victoria Park to lead throughout over 1400m winning with 58.5kg from Nishani with stakeswinner Clay Fighter third. He then took on the interstate 3yos in the Group 2 Angus Brut Stakes but was run down finishing behind Close Your Eyes and future Group 1 winner Marstic.
Kept in training after the carnival Manetti went to Cheltenham over 1000m. Sent out favourite he settled in 6th of the 9 runners but couldn't find a clear run in time fourth in a blanket finish behind talented San Andreas Fault. Back to Victoria Park he returned to form over 1300m. After settling in 6th of 12 runners he was too good in the home straight winning by 1 ½ lengths from Lord Roseland with four lengths to Dangerous Reef third. Showing the signs of a long preparation he was unplaced at his next two starts before a long spell.
First up My Millenium and Major Wilkes were too speedy over 1000m at Cheltenham on boxing day but Manetti found the lead second up at Victoria Park two weeks later. However the 1400m race distance proved too far and he was swamped passing the post 5th behind Gilded Star. At his next start he ran into all sorts of problems in the run and dropped out as Pride of Tarlton raced to victory. Returning to Cheltenham he jumped to the front holding off all challenges until run down near the line by Hightari and Pro Now.
Taken to Strathalbyn for an Open Hcp over 1200m Manetti was sent out evens favourite despite not having been successful for 12 months. He settled fourth early before steadily making ground to race away in the concluding stages to win by 4 lengths from Henrysee's Gold. Again he found the 1450m at Cheltenham too far after leading throughout to be run down by Stormy Jim, Prime Ruler and Dedication Boy.
Three weeks later over the same course and distance he settled third for moving up to second and holding that position to the line a long head behind the winner Gold Crystal. A fourth at Morphettville followed before heading to Victoria Park on the belated Adelaide Cup day. Over the 1300m course Manetti jumped to the front and led but Burning Palms ran him down in the final stages.
That may have been the last Adelaide saw of Manetti with his owner/trainer (George Dawson) considering retiring to Queensland and racing a handful of horses there.
