Oxx’s purple patch continues with Manieree in Blandford
Oxx’s string has hit form late in the season. But the victories of Alanza and Saddler’s Rock in Doncaster, followed by Born To Sea on Saturday and 9/1 shot Manieree yesterday provide evidence of the Curraghbeg yard’s well-being.
With Johnny Murtagh on board stable-companion Kirinda (owned by the Aga Khan), Niall McCullagh continued his successful partnership with Manieree, which broke smartly, dictated the pace and forged clear early in the straight to slam Sapphire by three and a quarter lengths, with Bible Belt, sent off 11/8 favourite in the absence of Banimpire, a very disappointing seventh.
John Oxx commented: “This filly likes soft ground and she’s improving steadily, which is always a good sign with a filly in the autumn. She holds a Group 1 entry, in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc day and, if they have a wet week in Paris, she’ll run.”
Following the defection of both Hujaylea and Future Generation, the Roger Charlton-trained Cityscape went off a red-hot 2/5 favourite for the Woodies DIY Suuporting Irish Autism Solonaway Stakes and duly landed the odds in the colours of Prince Khalid Abdullah.
The five-year-old, dropping from Group 1 company and ridden by Steven Drowne, beat Wild Wind readily by two and a half lengths prompting his trainer to comment: “This horse has been bashing into top-class horses so this was a chance to come and win, and win nicely. He’ll go for another Group 2 now, the Prix Daniel Wildenstein in Longchamp on the Saturday of Arc weekend.”
Unlucky and unplaced in last week’s Betfred Sprint Cup in Haydock Park, Bewitched made a quick reappearance to win the finale, the Group 3 thetote.com Renaissance, completing back-to-back wins in the six-furlong contest.
Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the Charles O’Brien-trained filly came from the back of the field to pounce well inside the final furlong and deny Roger Charlton a double with front-running Definightly.
A relieved O’Brien admitted, “I never like running back so quickly, particularly with a filly, after running in a Group 1. But the Haydock race was a waste of time. She had no race and came back heavier than when she left.”
When quizzed about plans, he explained: “She could go back to Ascot (where she won last autumn), for the Diadem , which is a Group 2 or the Foret at Longchamp is an option, although I’m not keen to take on Dream Ahead and Goldikova. She’ll be retired at the end of the season.”
The Patrick Prendergast trained Coral Wave got of the mark, at the third attempt when making all to land the listed Flame Of Tara 2-Y-0 Stakes in convincing style under Declan McDonogh. Runner-up to Cleofila last time, he stretched clear inside the final furlong to beat Lady Wingshot by three and a half lengths, with favourite Rubina a well-beaten third.
