Prolific country winner Mishani Gladiator will miss the Cairns Amateurs carnival and return to the scene of one of his biggest successes at Doomben.
Mishani Gladiator is trained by Mackay’s John Manzelmann who travels all over the state with his horses.
Manzelmann is a multiple winner of the Queensland trainers’ premiership and was second only to Tony Gollan last season with 99 winners.
He is leading the state title with 21 winners in the first six weeks of the season.
Manzelmann trains several horses for one of Queensland’s biggest owners, Mick Crooks, and Mishani Gladiator has been one of their best performers.
The now six-year-old did his early racing for Les Ross before joining Manzelmann last year and has since won races in Clermont, Mackay, Cairns, Rockhampton, Home Hill and Dingo.
Manzelmann has a big team of horses entered for the Cairns Amateurs meeting on Friday and Saturday but also accepted with Mishani Gladiator for the Country Cup (1200m) at Doomben.
“We accepted with Mishani Gladiator for Cairns but he drew barrier nine in both races and I thought the 1200 metres in Brisbane would suit him better,” Manzelmann said.
“It is a race for country horses and he has as good a form as any of them. Brad Stewart has won on him and he has accepted the ride.”
Stewart was aboard Mishani Gladiator when he won at Doomben as a two-year-old in December 2012.
“Mishani Gladiator beat Real Surreal into a minor placing in that race. Of course Real Surreal went on to win the Magic Millions Two-Year-old Classic,” Manzelmann said.
“It’s been a while since I had a Brisbane runner and I only come when I think they have a hope.”
