Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Laurie’s team locked and loaded for Manikato night
Five runners will represent Mornington trainer Matt Laurie on Manikato Stakes night at Moonee Valley on Friday, but there will be three in particular that have huge expectations on their shoulders. Five-year-old gelding Harry Got Styles (Harry Angel {Ire}) kicks off the Laurie stable action in the 55 Second Challenge, before two colts step up to the plate for Laurie in the G2 Stutt Stakes.
Vinrock (I Am Invincible) has already secured his spot at stud thanks to Yulong’s investment, and $175,000 VOBIS Gold 2YO Plate winner Prestige Ole (Ole Kirk) could stake his own claim with a top tier performance on Friday. Laurie and Yulong had decided to keep Vinrock down south instead of chasing a second Group 1 win in the G1 Golden Rose Stakes this weekend.
Vinrock | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“In the heat of the moment, after the win (last start), I was still very much onboard to head that way, but on reflection, I think staying home is a smart move,” Laurie told Racing.com on Wednesday. “Hopefully, we can add to his resume on the way through to giving him every chance here at Caulfield a couple of weeks later. He's in good nick, he galloped really well yesterday and I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
“On reflection, I think (Vinrock) staying home is a smart move.” - Matt Laurie
Of his Ole Kirk compatriot, Laurie admitted, "I can't knock him either. He's in good order, he had a nice gallop with Vinrock yesterday, as they did leading into their last run. There wasn't much between them in their trackwork, they're both in good order.”
Prestige Snitzel (Snitzel) makes her raceday return in the G3 Scarborough Stakes in the following race. A winner at Mornington and second in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes as a juvenile, she’s been primed with three jump-outs since arriving in Laurie’s stable this season.
Prestige Snitzel | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She's good, she's got three trials under her belt,” Laurie said. “I can't say she lights up the track, (but) she's trialled better than her trackwork. She's a bit hard to get a guide on, but I think we'll be stretching her out sooner rather than later.”
The most pressure will erupt in the following race, the G2 Feehan Stakes, where the unbeaten Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) makes her return to the races after a colic scare.
“We've never had any issues with her before, so it was just unfortunate, but she's come through it fine,” Laurie said. “This is a suitable option for her and if anything, it gives her a look at The Valley.
“This is a suitable option for her (Treasurethe Moment) and if anything, it gives her a look at The Valley.” - Matt Laurie
“I couldn't be happier. Her work on Monday morning was brilliant, I’m really pleased with her and I'm looking forward to it.”
Treasurethe Moment | Image courtesy of Sportpix
No mention of the looming threat of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), who heads to raceday for the first time since the G1 Doomben Cup in May, but she is just one of five rivals between Treasurethe Moment and extending her unbeaten streak.
Could the Manikato provide insight into The Everest?
With Skybird (Exosphere) confirmed for Inglis’s slot in the G1 The Everest on Thursday afternoon, the G1 Manikato Stakes on Friday night is starting to shape up into a preview for Sydney’s racing’s headline act next month. Superstar mare Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) has also been selected for the $20 million slot race by Fairway Thoroughbreds, and with three slots still remaining, there’s plenty to play for amongst the remaining eight runners in the field.
Last start, Baraqiel (Snitzel) extended his unbeaten record at Moonee Valley with an emotional victory in the G1 Moir Stakes, now batting four for four at the track. With eight wins from 12 starts, he could rise as a late entry to the fray in Sydney, if either Coolmore, Godolphin, and Mulberry Racing decide the 7-year-old can step up to the plate for them.
Just this week, Yulong purchased a 10% share in Charm Stone (I Am Invincible), who is first-up this spring after two jump-outs. The 5-year-old mare’s only run in Sydney was in the G1 Golden Rose Stakes, where she crossed the line just one length behind Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), and her work to win the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes over the same trip has to be admired. Could there be a slot on the line for her?
Gallery: Some of the competitors in the G1 Mankato Stakes
Kiwi-trained raider Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) has never finished further back than second - and was second to Baraqiel last start in the Moir by less than half a length. That’s her third placing at Group 1 level. A win, or a placing, here in this kind of field could prick a few ears amongst slotholders.
Yulong’s slot is already filled, so Magic Time (Hellbent) can’t earn her start in the Everest there, but her G3 Cockram Stakes victory in August at Caulfield was particularly impressive. She sits a month between runs, but she won the G2 Expressway Stakes first-up in the autumn, before a third placing in the G1 Canterbury Stakes. Is there another opportunity for the Yulong bottle green to be seen on Everest day?
Easier Scarborough looks ideal for Esha
Three-year-old Extreme Choice filly Esha was launched into the deep end at just her third lifetime start in the G1 Moir Stakes, where she finished eighth by just two and a half length, and Friday night’s task of the G3 Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley is shaping up to be well within her reach. The winner of her first two starts, including a three and a half length demolition job at the Valley in August, the filly is back against her own age and sex and looking to even the score.
“It looks an ideal race for her,” said Shane Nichols, who trains the filly in partnership with Hayden Black. “We'll decide where we go, we'll talk to the ownership group after that about whether we potentially go to a Coolmore or whether we stay on a fillies path.
“We'll talk to the ownership group after that about whether we potentially go to a Coolmore (with Esha) or whether we stay on a fillies path.” - Shane Nichols
There were excuses for the talented filly in the Moir, a race won by her father in 2016.
“She got galloped on,” Nichols told Racing.com on Thursday. “She had a little wound on her hind pastern, but it cleaned up pretty quickly and she was back to normal. Damian Lane came out and galloped her last week, she worked well. Then her normal rider Yasmin just gave her a gallop Tuesday morning. I think she probably presents up in pretty good shape.”
Esha | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The step up in distance to 1200 metres doesn’t worry Nichols.
“I don't think it's any concern,” he said. “Her mother was a strong miler, she relaxes really well, she'll be up on speed (and) probably not doing a lot of work unless they tear along, in which case, she might even take a sit. I wouldn't think it'd be any dramas.”
Esha has drawn the middle of the pack in a 11-horse field, which is headed up by formidable Kiwi filly La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth), who was 13th in the Moir. The Te Akau Racing-owned filly is the only runner with a triple digit benchmark and has drawn the ninth barrier again, the same as her Moir start.
The field also features G3 Magic Night Stakes winner Memo (Capitalist), who bounced through a trial after never getting a look in during the G2 Furious Stakes, and former boom juvenile filly Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}), who returned in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes after being scratched ahead of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes in the autumn.
Just Feelin’ Lucky travels south for third stakes score
Tommy Berry will be travelling south on Friday to partner the Michael Freedman-trained Just Feelin’ Lucky (Justify {USA}) in the G2 Stocks Stakes as the mare makes her Moonee Valley debut. The last start winner of the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes will be chasing a third victory in stakes company, having won the G3 Gunsynd Classic in the Queensland carnival.
Berry was on board for both victories, and she must have given him a fantastic feeling for the hoop to fly south and accept just one ride at the night meeting. He heads back to Sydney on Saturday to partner Freedman’s top fillies Marhoona (Snitzel) and Manaal (Tassort).
Just Feelin’ Lucky | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She's a really nice mare and she's very consistent,” Berry told the media on Thursday. “She's got a really good will to win, we saw that in Queensland, and also last start being second-up and caught wide with no cover and she still found a way to win.”
Berry feels positive about the 4-year-old’s first trip over the border
“With her (Just Feelin' Lucky's) racing style, we feel that she'll get around The Valley quite nicely.” - Tommy Berry
“She's a lovely horse and with her racing style, we feel that she'll get around The Valley quite nicely. James McDonald galloped her around The Valley on Monday and gave a glowing report. I think he galloped Lady Shenandoah and the big mare (Via Sistina) on the same day, so she would have felt a little bit different than those two, but he was still pretty complimentary.”
To be talked about in the same sentence as Lady Shenandoah and Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) is no mean feat.
