Michael Freedman will chase further Spring riches with classy mare Manaal as he prepares the Group 1 winner for the Group 2 The Invitation (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
A winner of the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old, Manaal has collected nearly $2 million in prize money having won the Sheraco Stakes and Golden Pendant at Group 2 level this preparation.
Under the set weights and penalties conditions of The Invitation, Manaal will carry 59kg, just half a kilogram under multiple Group 1 winner Stefi Magnetica and only two kilograms above the minimum, and Freedman believes it’s an ideal race for the in-form mare.
“She’s great and she’ll line up in The Invitation,” Freedman said.
Having beaten fellow Invitation runners in Gerringong, Firestorm and Gangsta Granny already this time in when conceding more weight, Freedman is hoping Saturday’s race provides the perfect platform for an even richer contest next week.
“She’s probably a little bit unproven, really untried at the mile, but I think the 1500 (metres) will be fine so she might back up into a Golden Eagle,” Freedman said.
“I mean, she ran a terrific race in the Coolmore (Classic) back in the autumn over 1500 (metres).
“She’s only had one run over the mile in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old when it was knee deep in mud, and they called the meeting off straight after.”
Manaal is a $4.00 favourite in markets for The Invitation ahead of Miss Roumbini and Stefi Magnetica, while also rated a $21 chance for the Golden Eagle where she’s likely to face off with unbeaten star Autumn Glow who heads the betting.
