Enjin Number Nine Shines in Listed Manfred Stakes

Yesterday's delayed running of the Listed Manfred Stakes (1300m) at Sandown saw a brilliant performance from the up-and-comer Enjin Number Nine to beat the dual Group 1 winning colt and hot favourite Star Witness.

Co-trainer Matt Ellerton was the first to admit that he was hoping that his charge Enjin Number Nine (Zenno Rob Roy x Sal) would run a good second to the glamour colt, but he surpassed even his trainer's expectations as he powered past the leading pack to win the feature by over two lengths.

Enjin Number Nine has only had three starts prior to yesterday's race, which is a testament to the scale of his performance. He has now had four starts for three wins and looks a likely starter in the Caulfield Guineas.

The three-year-old is also the first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner for his shuttle sire Zenno Rob Roy (Sunday Silence) who stood at Java Thoroughbreds in Matamata for the 2006 season. The stallion is already the sire of the Japan Group 1 winner Saint Emilion and the Group 2 winner Pelusa in the northern hemisphere.

Bred by Mrs Sue Oomen in Masterton, Enjin Number Nine was bought by Stefan Seketa from Oomen's Running Horse Lodge at the 2009 Karaka Ready to Run Sale for only $36,000. The three-year-old, with three wins from four career starts, has now earned his connections over A$80,000 and looks a serious prospect for the autumn.

The Ready to Run Sale will have another graduate lining up in a feature race this weekend with Linton (Galileo) set for the Group 1 CF Orr stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

The son of Zenno Rob Roy has rocketed to the top of the Australian Guineas market with the Listed victory and he is now sitting on the fourth line of betting paying $14 for the win.