Imported stayer Manighar, formerly with the Luca Cumani stable, made an impressive debut for Peter Moody when he won the Group Three TS Carlyon Cup at Caulfield.
The grey, one of four runners Moody had in the race, was sent out at $8 and travelled beautifully in fifth spot for Luke Nolen in the 1600m event, well short of his best distance on his European form where he had never raced below 2400m.
His six previous wins had been at 2400m and 3000m including his latest, a Group Two win in France in October 2009.
Having his first start since finishing runner-up to Americain in the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown last November, Manighar went on for an easy 1-3/4-length win over race leader Shadowfax ($8) with Veewap ($14) 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Moody announced plans to run the Linamix six-year-old in the $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10 and the $2.25 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 7.
“We came here with an open mind. He’s been going nicely at home,” the Caulfield trainer said.
“Four or five weeks ago he was a 4000-metre hurdler with all due respect but we sharpened his work up and the last couple of weeks he started to show a turn of foot.”
Moody said he suggested to the owners that the gelding wouldn’t be out of place in the 1600m event.
He said because of Manighar’s high head carriage he put a nose roll on him and he also raced with a lugging bit on.
The horse, who has earned $1,229,718 in prize-money, had raced in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups the past two years finishing fifth and fourth at Caulfield and seventh and fifth at Flemington.
“Luca always said he thought the horse would respond to the Australian way of training and his concern was the harder tracks,” OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson said.
“He looks like a horse that might go on now.”
Nolen said Manighar was travelling like the winner a long way from home.
“He didn’t get complacent but he had a look around when he got to the front,” he said.
“Hopefully this is the platform for what will hopefully be a fruitful preparation.”
West Australian galloper Ranger ($3.40 fav) settled back 10th of the 12 runners before working home well late to finish fifth.
AAP TURF
