Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The Anthony Cummings-trained Manwe, who is the only colt by the Group 1 winner Kementari, looks destined for higher honours after making the perfect start to his career at Canterbury.
Manwe was sent out a $12 chance in Race 1 - a 1200-metre maiden for 3-year-old colts and geldings, but won comfortably under Jason Collett, prompting Cummings to raise the bar.
“I got pretty much what I expected,” Cummings told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He’s been a pretty nice horse from the get-go. He was a bit backwards as a yearling, but he grew into what he looked like he should. Every time he’s come in, he’s improved with every gallop and every trial.
“He’s a nice horse in the making.
“In a perfect world, he’ll finish up in a Golden Rose, maybe, so we’ll just see but I think (Wednesday’s) race is a high-quality race, there’s good depth to it.”
“In a perfect world, he’ll (Manwe) finish up in a Golden Rose, maybe, so we’ll just see but I think (Wednesday’s) race is a high-quality race, there’s good depth to it.” - Anthony Cummings
After breaking from gate four, Manwe mustered speed early and found the front. He was held together by Collett before skipping clear entering the straight. The colt fended off all challengers in the run to the line, prevailing by 0.92l.
Manwe clocked 1:11.15 for the 1200-metre gallop on a Soft 5 track.
“To win as he did, I don’t think he’ll be a natural leader as he goes on but certainly to be able to do that and carry the day speaks well of him and I think the aims are still intact,” said Cummings.
Manwe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Collett added: “That was great. He had obviously shown a bit in the yard and there was stable confidence.
“He did a wee bit wrong in his trial, so to come here and be pretty professional is very good.
“He’s a lovely looking horse with the right attributes; he’s got a lovely future.”
“He’s (Manwe) a lovely looking horse with the right attributes; he’s got a lovely future.” - Jason Collett
A son of Lonhro, Kementari had a short-lived career in the breeding barn because of fertility issues. He was gelded and returned to racing. In his time at stud, Kementari served 54 mares in his one season (2019) at Darley Australia and has just two live foals on the ground. His only other runner to race, the Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old La Seule, is yet to run a place in two starts.
Bred by Geoff Harris, Manwe was consigned by his Toolooganvale Farm at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt was signed for by Anthony Cummings Racing for $200,000.
Manwe is the only son of Group 1 winner Kementari (pictured) | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Manwe is the third foal from the winning Bernardini (USA) mare With Care, and is closely related to the stakes winners Luen On Treasure (Dane Shadow), Arbeitsam (Snitzel) and Payroll (Not A Single Doubt).
“I bought the colt, I paid a couple of hundred grand for him at the Magic Millions a couple of years ago, and that’s looking a bit clever now,” Cummings commented.
