A start in Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 for Manawanui will depend on favourable weather.
Trainer Ron Leemon is concerned by the weather forecast which predicts rain periods to hit Brisbane on Wednesday, the day final acceptances are taken for the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
“My biggest worry is I’ve got to accept on Wednesday and if we end up with a heavy track I may be forced to spell him and keep him for the spring,” Leemon said.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed because the whole aim has been the 10,000.
“If it’s a slow 6 I might go but if it’s any worse than that he’s definitely out because too much work has gone into him this preparation and I don’t want to ruin him for the future.”
Manawanui suffered a bleeding attack in what was his only spring start in The Shorts, and Leemon fears a heavy track would be too taxing on the four-year-old.
“Horses that have bled stress out too much on heavy tracks,” he said.
“With him it’s a management plan and you do what can do and make sure he’s fit to step up to the next level.”
Leemon was pleased with Manawanui’s win in a 1030m barrier trial at Rosehill on May 14 when he edged past his 10,000 rivals Epaulette and Rangirangdoo to win by a half head with regular jockey Glynn Schofield aboard.
It’s been nearly 30 years since Leemon last ventured to Brisbane.
Godarchi won the 1984 O’Shea Stakes at Eagle Farm when it was held before the Doomben Cup which was won by the Bede Murray-trained Hussar’s Command.
“When we hopped on the plane in Sydney the weather was beautiful but we landed in Brisbane and the tarmac was completely covered in water and I said we might as turn around and go home because he just couldn’t handle the wet.
“They called the meeting off straight after Bede’s horse won the Cup.”
Godarchi returned the following year to run second in the Prime Minister’s Cup, then a middle distance race, before striking another wet track in the Doomben Cup which was his final start.
Leemon thought so much of Godarchi he named his stables after the gelding.
“I picked him out of the paddock and he won on every track in Sydney. He was a great horse to me,” Leemon said.
