Sandown Cup to add to consolation prize for Manzor Blue

Palmerston North mare Manzor Blue claimed valuable Australian black type when runner-up in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday, and she will now try to go one better in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) later this month.

New Zealand syndicator Go Racing began to dream of a Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their mare following her victory in the Wellington Cup (3200m) and runner-up effort in the Auckland Cup (3200m) earlier this year, and while she failed to make the field, they were rapt with their consolation prize on Saturday behind Pinhole.

“We are absolutely over the moon,” Go Racing’s general manager Matt Allnutt said. “To get a Group 3 placing at Flemington on the last day of the carnival is massive.

“We have always had a lot of confidence and faith in her, and we were hoping the race would be run to suit with the top weight leading and setting a strong gallop, and that is how it turned out.

“I thought she was magnificent, just the way she hit the line and finished the race off. It was such a good result. We were disappointed we didn’t get into the Melbourne Cup, but we always went over there knowing that if she didn’t we had back-up options, with Saturday’s race being the main one.

“We are happy to take the consolation prize of a second placing in a Group 3.”