Race favourite Manawanui won his first Group race when he claimed victory in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm Racecourse last Saturday August 20, 2011.
The three-year-old gelding was first-up in the 2011 Up And Coming Stakes after taking a short spell following his autumn success.
Trainer Ron Leemon wasn’t surprised when Manawanui won the 2011 Up And Coming Stakes by more than four lengths on Warwick Farm’s Heavy 9-rated track.
Leemon had instructed jockey Glyn Schofield to ride the gelding as a backmarker in the 1,300 metre Up And Coming Stakes.
“I was telling everyone I like to see him back a bit because he has an enormous amount of speed when you let him go,” said Leemon.
“We will now give him a pretty easy week next week and won’t do much at all with him and just try and get him back to normal.”
“It’s good to have a nice horse it’s been a long time since I have had a nice horse and when you can go to the races and compete at this level it’s good.”
Queenian finished a gallant second, while Detours rounded out the placings in third.
Jockey Glyn Schofield believes that Manawanui has immense potential.
“We definitely thought we had a serious horse in the making his first prep because whilst he did it all well he didn’t really know what to do he was just a big baby,” said Schofield.
“This prep he has come back a lot better mentally and he is a bit stronger and wiser animal.”
“His trials he led but purely by circumstances he is not a tearaway by any means and he showed that today that he can switch off and relax beautifully in behind them.”
Manawanui may now be destined for a start in the Group 1 Golden Rose for three-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse on September 10, 2011.
“It all depends if the owners put their hands in their pockets,” Leemon said.
The Oratorio gelding was purchased for $45,000 as a yearling at the 2010 Classic Yearling Sale and has already won nearly $140,000 in prize money.
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2011 Up And Coming Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | MANAWANUI | Ron Leemon | Glyn Schofield | - | 5 | 55kg | $2.25F |
| 2 | 1 | QUEENIAN | David Payne | Nash Rawiller | 4.3L | 1 | 57.5kg | $7.50 |
| 3 | 5 | DETOURS | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 4.4L | 3 | 53kg | $3.40 |
| 4 | 8 | IRISH TIMES | Clarry Conners | Christian Reith | 5.6L | 6 | 53kg | $21 |
| 5 | 4 | WIN FOR WILSON | John P Thompson | Brenton Avdulla | 7.4L | 7 | 53.5kg | $13 |
| 6 | 7 | DOUBLE RANGA | Paul Messara | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 14.1L | 2 | 53kg | $6.50 |
| 7 | 10 | KUTCHER | John P Thompson | Craig Williams | 32.7L | 4 | 53kg | $31 |
