Monday 6 February 2012

Manawanui likely to run in Royal Sovereign

By Mathew Toogood

The strength of Saturday's Expressway Stakes field is likely to persuade trainer Ron Leemon to stick with his original plan to bring Manawanui back to the races a week later.

Leemon has nominated Manawanui for the Group Two Expressway (1200m) which would avoid a clash of schedules for his regular jockey Glyn Schofield.

But after seeing the nominations the trainer is leaning towards keeping the three-year-old against his own age group in the Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) on February 18.

Schofield is the regular rider of both Hay List and Manawanui but should Manawanui go to the Royal Sovereign at Warwick Farm, the jockey would be forced to make a decision as Hay List is due to resume in the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne on the same day.

Leemon won't make a decision on an Expressway start until after the Golden Rose winner trials at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with Schofield aboard.

The Expressway attracted 15 nominations including fellow Group One winners Danleigh, Eagle Falls, Rangirangdoo, Sacred Choice, Shoot Out and Sniper's Bullet.

Rising sprint star Rain Affair is also entered along with the David Payne-trained trio of Master Of Design, Winter King and last year's Expressway winner Centennial Park.

"Looking at the field at this stage I'm leaning towards going to the Royal Sovereign," Leemon said.

"The number of entries (in the Expressway) is a bit bigger than I thought and there's a little bit more quality than I thought.

"I'll just wait and see how he trials tomorrow but I'm slightly leaning towards the Royal Sovereign at this stage."

Manawanui became a household name last spring in a six-start preparation which netted almost $1.2 million prizemoney with wins in the Golden Rose (1400m), Stan Fox Stakes (1500m), Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) and The Vase (2040m).

He also finished a gallant second to Helmet in the Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and was sixth in his final start of the campaign in the Victoria Derby (2500m).

Manawanui is entered in a 1030m trial at Rosehill.

"He's going well," Leemon said.

"He's still a bit big but the trial will bring him on."

Group One winners Beaded, Once Were Wild and Stand To Gain are also entered to trial at Rosehill.

Unbeaten three-year-old Moment Of Change is down to trial in the same 900m heat as Hot Snitzel and the Peter Snowden pair of Free Wheeling and Ambidexter, while Breeders Plate-winning two-year-old Pierro is also entered to trial over 900m.

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