Manhattan Rain 3yo Sabaj confirmed stable confidence in his ability with a last-stride victory on debut in the Spring Carnival Hcp (1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Sabaj (pictured) sat in the box-seat before jockey Jake Toeroek peeled three-wide on the corner with a view to reeling in the leaders but it took the length of the straight to get there in a photo-finish from Gold Spirit (Turffontein).
“He’s a serious horse,” co-trainer Chantelle Jolly declared. “He has a will to win like his older half-sister Tipsy Vixen but he’s a much better type.”
Tipsy Vixen (Foxwedge) is raced by the same owners and she won at Murray Bridge and Morphettville before going out for a spell in July. “We have a big opinion of him and threw him in at the deep end today,” Jolly added. “That was a Benchmark 64 first-up and he will keep raising the bar.”
Sabaj (3g Manhattan Rain – Bouzy by Uncle Mo) is a homebred for a partnership that includes Angelina Rossi, Joe Piteo, Paul Piteo and Pat Hodby. His dam is out of a half-sister to South African Group 2 winner Run Fox Run (Southern Cross Stakes) and Randwick Listed winner Guard Of Honour (Heritage Stakes).
“He’s genuine and will really come on next year,” Toeroek forecast. “He’s learning all the time and fingers crossed he can make a carnival horse here later this season.”
The Morphettville victory capped a week to remember for Chantelle and her father Richard at the Racing SA Industry Awards Night.
They claimed a third straight C S Hayes Trophy for most wins in 2023-24 and Toeroek secured his first John Letts Medal for Metropolitan Jockey Of The Year.
Sabaj is the latest black-type prospect to emerge this season for Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago). Man Crush was placed in the LR Belmont Newmarket (1200m) on August 10 as was La Danseuse Rouge in the G3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 31. The latter had already added her name to Manhattan Rain’s roll-call of 18 black-type winners in the LR Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville in July.
Manhattan Rain is based at Geisel Park Stud and will have his first Westspeed-bred yearlings for sale at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions in February. He stands for an $8,250 service fee alongside Aysar ($8,800), Winning Rupert ($8,800) and All American ($4,400). For bookings or further information, contact stud manager Conor Dunlop on 0447 434 735.
