News

Leemon might strike gold with Manawanui

23rd Aug 2011

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Sunday, 21 August 2011

POPULAR trainer Ron Leemon finally might have the horse, in Manawanui, to take him to racing's elite level. The Oratorio three-year-old crushed his rivals in the Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm yesterday and it is not if but when he steps up to the top level.

In outclassing his fellow three-year-olds, Manawanui was the talk the of the track. The gelding is set to play a big role in the spring majors and his four-length demolition of Queenian and Detours had the vanquished singing his praises.

''From the first time I saw this bloke [Manawanui] at the trials I thought he was a very good horse,'' Queenian's rider Nash Rawiller said. ''I think he proved that today.''

Detours's trainer, Peter Snowden, said: ''It's nice to see [Manawanui] win like that.''

''Ronnie has a great eye for a horse and always seems to come away from the sales with a bargain and a good horse,'' Snowden added.

The top-level encore could come as early as the $1 million Golden Rose in three weeks. Manawanui, which means bold and courageous in Maori, will need his connections to pay a late-entry fee of $50,000 for the right to take on the likes of Smart Missile, Foxwedge and Helmet at Rosehill on September 10.

''I will leave it up to [jockey] Glyn [Schofield]. If he thinks he can win the Golden Rose we'll pay the 50,'' Leemon said.

It would be another gamble for Leemon, who put up his hand for $45,000 at the Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale two years ago, ''which was a lot of money at the time because I didn't have it'', he said.

There have been offers from Hong Kong for Manawanui before yesterday which Leemon and connections have resisted but they are sure to soar into the millions now.

''At my stage of life I really want to enjoy a horse like him and so do the connections,'' Leemon said. ''That is not to say he is not for sale though.''

Leemon originally planned to run Manawanui in the Ming Dynasty Quality at Randwick on September 3 and has nominated him for the Caulfield Guineas and Spring Champion Stakes, but Schofield will push for the Golden Rose.

''I said to him on Thursday [before the race] to take the prizemoney from this race and pay the late entry [for the Golden Rose],'' Schofield said. ''What impressed me was that he had plenty left when we got to Nash's horse [Queenian] but he felt like he was labouring, so [I] gave him one [with the whip] and put four lengths in them, which surprised me.''

Leemon will give Manawanui a quiet week before making any decisions. He believes the horse can get out to a middle distance, which will also be a consideration when the Golden Rose late-entry fee is being weighed up.

''I have always wanted to see him ridden … off the speed and that was pleasing to see him finish it off like that,'' Leemon said.

''I think he will get [to] 2000 metres the way he relaxes, so all the options are open. We will wait and make our decision later on when things settle down.''

Schofield yesterday concurred with Leemon's view.

''He has the speed and brilliance to become a top-class, middle-distance horse,'' Schofield said.

''He certainly has an interesting spring in front of him.''