Manighar (green silks, noseband): has won six of his eight starts

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Luca Cumani takes on Melbourne Cup hope

FRENCH Group race winner Manighar has been bought in a new jointventure between American owner Earle Mack and Australian-based OTI Racing and has joined Luca Cumani in Newmarket.

The four-year-old son of Linamix has won six of his eight starts and, following victory in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp on Arc weekend, went onto to finish third to older horses Ask and Schiaparelli in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak on his return to Longchamp later in October when trained by Alain de Royer Dupre for the Aga Khan.

The Melbourne Cup is likely to figure his on the agenda of Manighar as Mad Rush finished seventh in the race for Mack when favourite for the race in 2008 and he has been on the lookout for a similar type for the "Race That Stops A Nation" since.

Mad Rush was injured in the Group 3 Curragh Cup at the end of June but a return trip to Australia was not really on the agenda for him and he is now back in light training with Cumani.

Mack said: "I met Terry Henderson (OTI Racing) in Australia when our horses ran in the 2008 Melbourne Cup and I am really looking forward to our new association.

"Manighar is settling in nicely at Bedford House Stable but we will be in no hurry with him and he probably won't be seen out until midsummer."