Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue (Almanzor) caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor had previously only raced up to rating 75 grade and was taking a massive jump up to Group company on Saturday, a step punters thought was too far and they let her drift out to an 86-1 outsider.
From her outside draw she was taken straight to the back to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Kate Hercock where she had an economical trip for most of the marathon journey.
Turning for home, the pair had a wall of horses in front of them, but Hercock was able to weave a passage through the pack and Manzor Blue stuck her nose out in front with 50m to go and held onto her advantage to win by a short neck over fellow Awapuni galloper Crouch, with a further half-length back to stablemate Be Real in third.
Prior to the start, Hercock told trainer Lisa Latta that she would ride her mare for luck and that’s exactly what she did, and while she was left querying their chances around the final bend, lady luck was on their shoulder down the straight and the Hawke’s Bay hoop was rapt to get the result.
“I said (to Latta) if she gets back we will ride her for luck,” Hercock said. “From about the half mile we were getting in more carnage, at the 600m we were in a lot more carnage and then I rolled back into the inside and she has got such a phenomenal turn of foot on her day.”
Latta said Manzor Blue has had her share of issues this season and she was pleased to overcome them and build towards the Wellington Cup, with Hercock’s advice proving to be the difference of her pressing on towards the Trentham feature following her last start sixth placing at the Upper Hutt track.
“We have had a lot of niggles with this mare this season, she had a lot of back problems. We have worked extra hard to get her right,” Latta said.
“She only ran sixth here a fortnight ago and I said to Kate ‘should we press on to the Wellington Cup?’ she said ‘press on, I think she is back’. At that time it didn’t even look like she would make the field. Good on Kate, she deserved it, she pinched runs and she got there.”
Manzor Blue carried New Zealand syndicator Go Racing’s silks to victory and Latta was pleased to get the result for her loyal clients.
“Go Racing has been fantastically loyal to me,” Latta said. “They do a fantastic job syndicating their horses. The last time I had a big winner was Sentimental Miss at Wellington (for Go Racing).”
Now proven at stakes level, Latta believes her mare has a bright future among New Zealand’s staying ranks.
“She is only a five-year-old mare, she has got it all in front of her,” she said. “We have ironed out a lot of niggles and learned a lot about her this year.”
Bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Manzor Blue is out of Zabeel mare Turquoise Coast, a half-sister to Group Three winner Island Life.
Manzor Blue was offered through Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where was purchased by Go Racing for $130,000.
She has now won three of her 21 starts and earned just shy of $280,000 in prizemoney.
