An Australian Guineas berth is on the line for Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) when he contests Saturday's Gr.3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and his jockey Jake Noonan couldn't be happier with the 2017 version of the three-year-old.
Noonan explained on Wednesday that Manolo Blahniq, who finished close to some of the best colts in the land in last spring's Coolmore Stud Stakes, had been learning to settle better in his races and he said it was that trait that will serve him well when he gets over longer distances.
"We went in with a main aim to keep him settled," Noonan said. "Last prep, you'd say in the Coolmore he over-raced quite badly.
"We've done a lot of work in teaching this horse to settle while keeping in mind the Australian Guineas."
Manolo Blahniq made up late ground when wide on the course at Moonee Valley first-up and Noonan said the horse's attitude was much better than it had been in the spring.
"He probably strips fitter for that first-up run and with the form he's got you go into that race pretty competitive," Noonan said.
"His first-up run was strong. If there had have been any more tempo, he would have been right in the thick of things late but it was good to see him run well first-up, hit the line and settle." -racing.com
Noonan explained on Wednesday that Manolo Blahniq, who finished close to some of the best colts in the land in last spring's Coolmore Stud Stakes, had been learning to settle better in his races and he said it was that trait that will serve him well when he gets over longer distances.
"We went in with a main aim to keep him settled," Noonan said. "Last prep, you'd say in the Coolmore he over-raced quite badly.
"We've done a lot of work in teaching this horse to settle while keeping in mind the Australian Guineas."
Manolo Blahniq made up late ground when wide on the course at Moonee Valley first-up and Noonan said the horse's attitude was much better than it had been in the spring.
"He probably strips fitter for that first-up run and with the form he's got you go into that race pretty competitive," Noonan said.
"His first-up run was strong. If there had have been any more tempo, he would have been right in the thick of things late but it was good to see him run well first-up, hit the line and settle." -racing.com