Listed Flemington Victory for Manolo Blahniq (NZ)

Karaka graduate Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) is now a stakes winner on both sides of the Tasman.

The winner of the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie as a two-year-old, the $115,000 Select Sale purchase added Saturday’s A$140,000 Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington to his CV with a classy and determined performance.

After breaking from the outside gate in the 11-horse field, Manolo Blahniq was wide on the track throughout the race. But he emerged from midfield with a strong finishing burst in the straight, finishing over the top of Holbien (Pierro) and Takedown (Stratum) to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He didn’t have the best run, three wide with no cover,” jockey Dwayne Dunn said. “But this horse’s work the other morning was sensational, and he’s still got plenty of improvement in him fitness-wise.

“We’re just starting to see the best of him. Tony (Noonan, trainer) took this horse to Sydney last year, and I think that helped to mentally get him stable and settle him down. The rest of his body’s catching up now.

“He should be in for a very good preparation, and he can go for a much higher class than this.”

Manolo Blahniq has now had 24 starts for four wins, six placings and A$362,134 in prize-money – more than three times his purchase price.