Josh Parr is over the moon about his upcoming appointment with Peter Moody’s star import Manighar, the in-form Sydney hoop having been booked to ride the champ in their resuming run in the Chipping Norton Stakes 2013 this Saturday.
Manighar resumes racing in the 2013 Chipping Norton Stakes this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Linamix gelding was a genuine revelation for the stable last autumn when the grey became the first horse in history to complete the Australian Cup – Ranvet Stakes – The BMW triple.
Now seven, Manighar had a two run spring campaign that was cut short after their disappointing sixth to subsequent Cox Plate hero Ocean Park in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield when injuring their knee.
They are set for their return on the weekend however as one of the headliners in the $350,000 Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Having been ridden by Luke Nolen for all but one of their nine runs since joining Moody’s operation at the end of 2011, Manighar will have a jockey change on Saturday with revitalised jockey Parr picking up the ride with Nolen in Melbourne for the Newmarket Handicap meeting.
Parr was one of the country’s most exciting apprentice riders back in 2005-06 riding an impressive 99 winners, 66 of those at metro meetings.
He has looked to recapture that earlier form this season winning a host of races for the Peter Snowden stable in Sydney, with nearly half of his 32 victories being for Darley’s head trainer.
Now it is Moody he will look to salute for in the Chipping Norton, a ride Parr is thrilled to have secured.
“I will partner one of the greats in Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes, Manighar. What a privilege it will be,” he said.
Owner Terry Henderson is happy with the horse’s condition but does harbour some concerns over the wet weather in Sydney.
“Pete’s happy with the way he’s come along, everything’s on track and we’re expecting a good race from him on Saturday,” he said.
“Hopefully the ground’s not too wet.”
Following the Chipping Norton autumn plans are still up in the air for Manighar Henderson said a title defense in the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day, April 6, is unlikely.
Instead connections are looking at the $500,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick a week later on Sydney Cup Day after they vie for consecutive wins in the $400,000 Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 23.
“He is only 50-50 about getting to the BMW,” Henderson said.
“He will go to the Ranvet then we will assess whether he is ready for the BMW.
“If not we will hold him back for the Queen Elizabeth.”
Manighar contested last year’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes after their The BMW triumph but could only manage to finish two and a half lengths away second to Gai Waterhouse’s glamour mare More Joyous.
Henderson will also be represented in the Chipping Norton this year by the Chris Waller-trained English import Gatewood who is The BMW-bound.
“Gatewood came through his first up run well,” Henderson said of their first-up sixth to Alma’s Fury in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) in the mud at Warwick Farm on February 23.
“He will be all the better for the run on Saturday and will be ready to show his best in the Ranvet and BMW.”
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