Fillies’ feature looks Sweet pickings for Manaal

Manaal can underline her Golden Slipper claims in the Sweet Embrace Stakes.

MANAAL winning the KEENELAND GIMCRACK STAKES
MANAAL winning the KEENELAND GIMCRACK STAKES Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Manaal has largely flown under the radar since her Gimcrack Stakes win, but trainer Michael Freedman is looking for her to put her name back up in lights at Randwick.

A narrow victor of Sydney's first two-year-old race of the season, Manaal returned with a closing second to the speedy Lady Of Camelot in the Widden Stakes (1100m) on February 3.

Manaal conceded the winner three kilos from a wide draw, and with Lady Of Camelot franking the form with her brave second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, Freedman has taken only positives from his filly's performance.

"We had to ride her (quiet) from where she drew and giving three kilos and a start is never easy," Freedman said.

"Her run was terrific on a track that tends to favour leaders, that 1100 at Rosehill, which it did again that day.

"From a campaign going into the autumn, it was a great return. She's in great order."

While the colts and geldings have all but dominated the two-year-old headlines this season, there was a shift in the Blue Diamond with the first four horses across the line fillies.

Manaal likewise gets an opportunity to serve a reminder of her autumn credentials in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, just over an hour after raging Golden Slipper favourite Storm Boy struts his stuff in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).

She is a $2.15 favourite for the Group 2 race and a $34 chance in Slipper markets.


Racing and Sports



Randwick

Saturday, 02nd March 2024

6
15:25
(local)

TAB SWEET EMBRACE STAKES (G2)

Age: 2yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
AUD $302,000
1200m TURF SOFT
6
15:25
(local)
AUD $302,000
1200m SOFT

TAB SWEET EMBRACE STAKES (G2)

Age: 2yo Sex: F Type: OPEN
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 1. MANAAL (AUS) 2yo F
TASSORT (AUS) - RED LODGE (USA)
TOMMY BERRY
MICHAEL FREEDMAN
$2.05
55.5kg
Emirates Park (Mgr: N A H Lootah)
2nd 11. FLY FLY (AUS) 2yo F
TRAPEZE ARTIST (AUS) - DAWN DAWN (AUS)
JASON COLLETT
M, W & J HAWKES
$7
55.5kg
Mrs P L Crosby & R R Crosby
3rd 6. EXTREME DIVA (AUS) 2yo F
EXTREME CHOICE (AUS) - ON A GIVEN DAY (AUS)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
ANTHONY CUMMINGS
$13
55.5kg
Think Big Stud (D Ramage), A McAnulty, Mrs L McAnulty, Peake Racing (P N Edwards), AHT Thoroughbreds (A H Tighe), W B Fornari, Mrs M N Annetts & Mrs D Bock

Sales Information

4th 4. CHATEAU MIRAVAL (AUS) 2yo F
ZOUSAIN (AUS) - SHEILA'S STAR (AUS)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$5.5
55.5kg

Sales Information

5th 12. DIDDLE DUMPLING (AUS) 2yo F
DEEP FIELD (AUS) - DEVIOUS MAID (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
G RYAN & S ALEXIOU
$41
55.5kg

Sales Information

6th 3. TOTOKA (AUS) 2yo F
BRUTAL (NZ) - SPORTS WRITER (AUS)
DYLAN GIBBONS
PAUL PERRY
$21
55.5kg

Sales Information

7th 5. PHOTOGRAPHICS (NZ) 2yo F
PER INCANTO (USA) - LOS VARGAS (NZ)
KERRIN MCEVOY
J G SARGENT
$13
55.5kg

Sales Information

8th 9. VALABING (AUS) 2yo F
NATIONAL DEFENSE (GB) - DESERT LASHES (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
DAVID PAYNE
$91
55.5kg

Sales Information

9th 7. WAVE BREAKER (AUS) 2yo F
PIERATA (AUS) - OCEAN TEMPEST (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
PETER & PAUL SNOWDEN
$8.5
55.5kg

Sales Information

10th 10. ASTERIDE (AUS) 2yo F
ASTERN (AUS) - ESSIE'S PRIDE (AUS)
ASHLEY MORGAN
R & L PRICE
$101
55.5kg
11th 13. MONTANA DAWN (AUS) 2yo F
AMERICAN PHAROAH (USA) - MONTANA SUNSET (AUS)
REECE JONES
JOHN P THOMPSON
$101
55.5kg

Sales Information

12th 14. ZOUNAKA (AUS) 2yo F
ZOUSAIN (AUS) - RENAKA (AUS)
TOM MARQUAND
JOHN P THOMPSON
$71
55.5kg

Sales Information