Moonovermanhattan became the first stakeswinner for Arrowfield’s first season sire Manhattan Rain when he won on debut in Saturday’s $115,000 SAJC National S. 1200m G3.
The 2YO Mick Price-trained colt jumped well for jockey Damien Oliver, who was happy to lead on him, but the pair faced a stiff challenge from the filly Not A Happy Camper (by Not A Single Doubt) on the home turn. Both horses responded generously under pressure, but Moonovermanhattan had a half-head advantage at the post. Sweet and Speedy was three lengths way in third place, and Tender (by All American) was fourth.
Oliver said, “I thought they would go quicker but my bloke bounced out so I was happy to lead. I rode him in a gallop last Tuesday so I knew he was fit enough and he found for me when I went for him, it was a good tough win.
“He should improve a fair bit on that and he’s got a good future for sure.”
Mick Price’s plans for Moonovermanhattan indicate his opinion of the strongly made grey colt. “I will send him out for a spell now. Then he can come back for the Caulfield Guineas.”
Manhattan Rain, a half-brother by Encosta de Lago to champion sire Redoute’s Choice, won the AJC Sires’ Produce S. G1 at two and trained on to place at three in the 2009 Caulfield Guineas & Cox Plate. His first runners include two other stakes performers, Chengdu in Perth, and Light Up Manhattan, stakes-placed in Melbourne & Adelaide.
Manhattan Rain’s first crop yearlings sold for up to $260,000, a figure that was exceeded by two Inglis Easter fillies this year, one sold to Hawkes Racing for $275,000, the other to John Foote for $270,000.
Moonovermanhattan was bred by Arrowfield & John Leaver from the Flying Spur mare Lunaspur, herself a two-time stakeswinner at two, and also the dam of Group 2 winner Colorado Claire and stakes-placed juvenile winner Moonlight Hussey, both by Hussonet. Lunaspur has a weanling colt by More Than Ready and is in foal to Charge Forward.
Moonovermanhattan’s second dam is the Caerleon mare Lunaliona, imported from France by Arrowfield in 1997. Lunaliona, who died in 2010, was a half-sister to HH The Aga Khan’s champion sire Linamix.
Well-known international agent Dermot Farrington purchased Moonovermanhattan for $100,000 from the Arrowfield draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale. Arrowfield’s yearling “Class of 2013” is proving highly successful with seven stakeswinners already emerging from it.
Manhattan Rain’s 2014 fee is $16,500 inc. GST.
