Manolo Blahniq
Trish Dunell
Precocious youngster Manolo Blahniq is in Queensland, but whether he makes an appearance during the winter carnival is yet to be decided.
The New Zealand-bred son of Jimmy Choux impressed in his brief career from Craig Thornton's stable and it was always the intention that the colt would do his future racing for Tony Noonan.
The Victorian trainer purchased Manolo Blahniq for $115,000 at Karaka last year with the pre-sale plan of placing him with his long-time friend Thornton for his early education.
"He'll probably have a couple of trials in Queensland and it depends how he goes and then Tony will make a decision," Thornton said.
"If he's happy with the horse then he may run him there, but the main priority is Melbourne in the spring."
Manolo Blahniq returned to work last month following a break and Thornton said he was coming up particularly well.
"He left here in good form – he's a very serious horse."
Manolo Blahniq was the beaten favourite in the Listed Karaka Million after he had finished runner-up on debut in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes and then won the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes.
While sad to see the two-year-old leave his stable, Thornton is excited about the replacement he welcomed from Noonan.
"I've got a three-quarter brother to Criterion who is being broken in by Paul Pertab," he said.
The Sebring colt is out of the Group Two-winning Redoute's Choice mare Varenna Miss, a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Criterion who has recently been retired to Newgate Farm by his New Zealand owner Sir Owen Glenn. – NZ Racing Desk.
The New Zealand-bred son of Jimmy Choux impressed in his brief career from Craig Thornton's stable and it was always the intention that the colt would do his future racing for Tony Noonan.
The Victorian trainer purchased Manolo Blahniq for $115,000 at Karaka last year with the pre-sale plan of placing him with his long-time friend Thornton for his early education.
"He'll probably have a couple of trials in Queensland and it depends how he goes and then Tony will make a decision," Thornton said.
"If he's happy with the horse then he may run him there, but the main priority is Melbourne in the spring."
Manolo Blahniq returned to work last month following a break and Thornton said he was coming up particularly well.
"He left here in good form – he's a very serious horse."
Manolo Blahniq was the beaten favourite in the Listed Karaka Million after he had finished runner-up on debut in the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes and then won the Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes.
While sad to see the two-year-old leave his stable, Thornton is excited about the replacement he welcomed from Noonan.
"I've got a three-quarter brother to Criterion who is being broken in by Paul Pertab," he said.
The Sebring colt is out of the Group Two-winning Redoute's Choice mare Varenna Miss, a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Criterion who has recently been retired to Newgate Farm by his New Zealand owner Sir Owen Glenn. – NZ Racing Desk.
