Manighar is the first horse to claim the Australian Cup-Ranvet Stakes-BMW treble in the same season after winning his third Group 1 in a row
PICTURE: Getty ImagesManighar continues Group 1 streak in BMW
Report: Australia, Saturday
Rosehill: The BMW (Group 1) 1m4f, turf,3yo+
Peter Moody is most famous as the trainer of Black Caviar but the depth of his skill was showcased at Rosehill on Saturday when the rejuvenated Manighar raced away with the $2.25 million BMW.
The European import has been a revelation under Moody, who only took over his training from Luca Cumani at the beginning of his current campaign.
Manighar has now won four of his five starts for the leading Melbourne trainer and on Saturday at Rosehill he etched his place in history, becoming the first horse to claim the Australian Cup-Ranvet Stakes-BMW treble in the same season.
Moodywas happy to be in the spotlight due to the deeds of a horse other than Black Caviar with who he is inextricably linked.
"The hardest thing about training a horse like Black Caviar is you get known as a one-man band," Moody said.
"I'm often reminding people I'm winning 200 races a year, that I've won a metropolitan premiership and run second in an Australian premiership before Black Caviar won her second race.
"You're known as Peter Moody, the trainer of Black Caviar. I'm happy to win a Bairnsdale maiden." Black Caviar's regular rider Luke Nolen partnered Manighar, parking him second while favourite Americain was midfield and wide.
Manighar sweptto the front on straightening and was strong to the line, scoring by one and a half lengths over Americain, the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner, with Drunken Sailor another half-neck away. Moody said Manighar may now press on to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes later in the carnival ahead of a Cox Plate campaign.
Trainer David Hayes was pleased with the effort of Americain, although miffed at the ride by Hong Kong-based Frenchman Gerald Mosse.
"He was caught wide three-out then he was held up at a vital stage. How you can do that when you've been three-wide throughout the race I don't know," Hayes said.
Stewards voiced their criticism of Mosse's effort feeling he had an opportunity to get cover early by slotting in behind Scarlett Lady. Mosse felt he would have been too far back and said Americain's wide barrier limited his options.
"I didn't get a chance to get in. In my mind there's not much sense getting ten lengths back off," Mosse said. "The pace was not going that fast." Hayes told stewards the plan had been to track Manighar but the race didn't pan out.
"We were hoping he could jump out and get cover and be in touch with the grey (Manighar)," Hayes said. Chief steward Ray Murrihy summed it up: "You don't track three-wide in a Group 1 race and win them.
"For your first ride in Sydney it wasn't one of yourbest. You set the horse too tough a task. It's clear to us you should have come back and sat behind Scarlett Lady."
ALSO ON SATURDAY
Vinery Stud Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo fillies
A bold ride by Danny Nikolic on Mosheen resulted in yet another Group 1 win for the outstanding filly at Rosehill, but thejockey admitted he might have cut things a bit fine.
Nikolic jumped Mosheen to the front out of the barriers in Saturday's Vinery Stud Stakes and she led by five lengths at the top of the straight. But as the line drew closer, Streama gave chase and as the winner eased down, her rival got to within half a length.
"I was told to give her as soft a run as possible but I probably played with fire a little bit," he told stewards. "She still won by half a length. It's not as if it was a head or a neck."
The Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes (Group 1) 7½f, turf, 3yo+
Chris Waller was moved to tears when problem-laden gelding Metal Bender scooted along the inside to deliver him a third successive George Ryder Stakes.
Metal Bender's career has been thwarted by setbacks andinjury. The George Ryder was Metal Bender's second run back from a tendon injury and an emotional Waller praised the six-year-old's courage.
"He's had plenty of problems," Waller said. "It's just an amazing performance. "It's a big effort for a horse who has been off for such a long time."
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