Manolo Blahniq
Trish Dunell
Craig Thornton is on target to cash in on a lucrative going away present from his Australian-bound youngster Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
The Cambridge trainer is making the most of his time with the highly-regarded son of the former New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux, who boosted his Listed Karaka Million prospects with a hollow win at Ellerslie on Friday.
A debut second in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, the colt made short work of his juvenile rivals in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes.
"He's still learning and he had improved since Avondale," Thornton said. "It's just a matter of keeping him together and happy, as it is with all two-year-olds, before the Million."
Manolo Blahniq was a $115,000 Karaka purchase for Thornton's good friend Tony Noonan and the youngster will transfer to the Victorian trainer's stable after the country's richest race on January 24.
"Tony and I have been mates for a long time, I met him in America about 15 years ago and have done some pre-training for him before now," said Thornton, referring to the successful period he spent riding over fences in the United States.
Manolo Blahniq, who currently races in the colours of his breeder and co-owner Nearco Stud, bounded straight to the lead for Matt Cameron and he turned the race into a procession in the run home.
"I told Matt to be aggressive as I expected Tennessee to go forward, but she missed the jump," Thornton said.
Manolo Blahniq made the most of his uncontested lead and the commanding favourite coasted home by three and a half lengths from the Awapuni visitor Showmeyamoneyhoney (NZ) (Showcasing) and Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins). – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge trainer is making the most of his time with the highly-regarded son of the former New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux, who boosted his Listed Karaka Million prospects with a hollow win at Ellerslie on Friday.
A debut second in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, the colt made short work of his juvenile rivals in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes.
"He's still learning and he had improved since Avondale," Thornton said. "It's just a matter of keeping him together and happy, as it is with all two-year-olds, before the Million."
Manolo Blahniq was a $115,000 Karaka purchase for Thornton's good friend Tony Noonan and the youngster will transfer to the Victorian trainer's stable after the country's richest race on January 24.
"Tony and I have been mates for a long time, I met him in America about 15 years ago and have done some pre-training for him before now," said Thornton, referring to the successful period he spent riding over fences in the United States.
Manolo Blahniq, who currently races in the colours of his breeder and co-owner Nearco Stud, bounded straight to the lead for Matt Cameron and he turned the race into a procession in the run home.
"I told Matt to be aggressive as I expected Tennessee to go forward, but she missed the jump," Thornton said.
Manolo Blahniq made the most of his uncontested lead and the commanding favourite coasted home by three and a half lengths from the Awapuni visitor Showmeyamoneyhoney (NZ) (Showcasing) and Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins). – NZ Racing Desk.