Spring prospect Manawanui all but confirmed an Up And Coming Stakes return with a convincing barrier trial win on Monday.
With race jockey Glyn Schofield in the saddle, Manawanui was able to lead against six rivals in a 1030-metre heat at Rosehill before posting a 10-length winning margin.
The three-year-old ran almost two seconds faster than the next quickest trial for the distance but trainer Ron Leemon said it would be unwise to read too much into the win.
“He was up against a lot of staying horses … there was no speed in the trial,” Leemon said.
Manawanui is nominated for the $125,000 Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick Farm – his home track – on Saturday.
“The plan all along was to use the trial as his final serious gallop before Saturday’s race,” Leemon said.
“I’ll see how he comes through it over the next couple of days but at this stage it’s 90 per cent certain he’ll run (on Saturday).”
Manawanui pressed his claims for spring campaign with two wins in three late season two-year-old starts.
Leemon has nominated Manawanui for the $1 million Caulfield Guineas but he won’t finalise a spring target until he learns more about the horse.
“I’m taking a very flexible approach with him,” he said.
“There are a couple of programs for him but I haven’t worked out if he is a sprinter-miler or a 2000-metre plus horse yet.”
Among the beaten brigade in the trial was trainer Chris Waller’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner My Kingdom Of Fife.
My Kingdom Of Fife finished fifth and will trial again before resuming.
Happy Zero, who enjoyed a decorated Hong Kong career, narrowly won his 900-metre trial with Hawkes Racing stablemate Shadowofexcellence, a half-brother to Makybe Diva, finishing third.
AAP TURF
