Danleigh closes strong to win Manikato
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Danleigh made his first start of the spring campaign a winning one on Friday as he pulled away in the straight to capture the Manikato Stakes (Aus-G1) at Moonee Valley.
The 6-year-old Mujahid gelding saved ground under jockey Kerrin McEvoy, overtook Group 3 winner Wanted in the straight, and tallied by three-quarters of a length.
Danleigh covered the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) race in 1:12.58 on turf rated as soft.
“Great ride. Great horse. Fantastic result,” trainer Chris Waller told Australia’s ABC Sport. “I thought he was a weight-for-age horse, and the Group 1s are what it’s all about. We’ve had a crack and we’ve won it.”
Phelan Ready, winner of the AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes (Aus-G1), split horses to finish second while Nicconi closed well for third. Wanted finished fourth and champion sprinter Apache Cat finished sixth in the 11-horse field.
The win also secured Danleigh a starting spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series.
Waller told ABC Sport that Danleigh will be pointed to the Schweppes Stakes (Aus-G1) on Oct. 24 at Moonee Valley in October and the Patinack Farm Classic (Aus-G1) on Nov. 7 at Flemington, both at 1,200 meters.
Australian-bred Danleigh, winner of the Daily Telegraph All-Aged Stakes (Aus-G1) in April at Randwick, entered the Manikato Stakes off a runner-up finish in the AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (Aus-G1) on June 6 at Eagle Farm. He is out of the Dr Grace mare Graceful Lily.
