A relative of former champion Super Impose and half-brothers to multiple Group One winner Show A Heart and top sprinter Zero Rock will have pedigree students salivating when the trio clash in a lowly midweek maiden at Doomben.
Military Manor, whose dam Cleobelle is a half-sister to eight-time Group One winner Super Impose, and Show A Heart’s half-brother Vacallo make their debuts in Wednesday’s Carlton Mid Maiden Plate (1110m).
The pair will be joined by the Kelso Wood-trained Eight O’Clock Rock, a half-brother to Group One-placed Zero Rock.
Show A Heart won four Group Ones before going on to become a highly-successful stallion.
Military Manor is trained at the Gold Coast by Gillian Heinrich who will scratch stablemate Whisky Highway from the same race after the three-year-old drew badly.
Heinrich admitted Military Manor was bought at the Magic Millions sales on type, not because of his flashy pedigree.
“We bought him because he was such a good type not because of his breeding,” Heinrich said.
Heinrich was forced to delay Military Manor’s career several times after the son of Pendragon kept going shin-sore as a two-year-old.
“He kept going shin-sore so I tipped him out and let him mature,” Heinrich said.
“We’ve finally got him to the track now and he trialled well when he ran third here last month.
“It was nice trial but I felt he probably went a little too hard.”
Trainer Rob Heathcote was also happy with Vacallo’s recent barrier trial win at Doomben but is not confident the three-year-old can win.
“He’s a handy horse but he’s no superstar,” Heathcote said.
“Not many horses win first time out and I’ll be very happy to see him run a place.
“But he’s forward enough to run a good race and his trial was quite good.”
Wood will take a keen interest in the performance of Eight O’Clock Rock who is on the comeback trail after finishing fifth on debut in a 1000-metre maiden at Eagle Farm in December.
Wood believes the son of Octagonal, who finished second in an 800-metre barrier trial at Doomben last month, shows little similarities to Zero Rock and his other siblings.
“He’s more laid-back than Zero Rock,” Wood said.
“He’s a four-year-old whose only had one start after he needed time from knee surgery early on in his career.”
Wood was not disappointed with Eight O’Clock’s debut when beaten just over three lengths after drawing wide.
“Unfortunately he’s got another bad barrier (10) tomorrow,” he said.
AAP TURF
