Brown predicts bright future for debut winner Manolo Bling
Ethan Brown feels Manolo Bling (Grunt) has earned herself a shot at a stakes race after making a stylish winning debut at Caulfield on Saturday.
The well-related daughter of Yulong second-season stallion Grunt (O’Reilly) lined up against 11 rivals and, despite it being her racetrack debut, was sent off the $5.50 favourite in the competitive contest after gaining a run as the first emergency.
Having sat three-wide off the leader Husk (Calyx) for most of the 1100-metre journey, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained juvenile took up the running with 100 metres left to race and proved 1.3 lengths too strong for the long-time leader, with a further length back to Berezka (Xtravagant) in third.
“She had a nice flowing run from the gate, I wasn’t overly concerned [about being three-wide], because she got into a lovely rhythm,” the winning rider said.
“She was probably in the better part of the track coming down that three-wide lane and she’ll be all the better for the run too.
“She cornered a touch awkwardly, but once we straightened up she really balanced up well and found the line.”
Manolo Bling (2 f Grunt – Evening Slippers by Snitzel) was a $340,000 purchase for Matt Laurie Racing and Justin Bahen from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, making her the second-most expensive yearling by her sire.
“She’s only a slight filly but she’s got a great head on her shoulders and she’s got a lot of natural ability,” Brown added.
“She’ll only improve on what she did today – I don’t think she was really wound up for that – so she’s exciting going forward and certainly deserves a shot at stakes grade.”
The filly is the first foal out of the winning Snitzel mare Evening Slippers, herself a sister to the The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) winner Sweet Idea and dual Group 2 scorer Showtime.
Evening Slippers, who was sold for $550,000 to Yulong from the Arrowfield draft at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, has a yearling filly and weanling colt by Written Tycoon (Iglesia), while she was again covered by Grunt last spring.
Grunt has sired 28 winners in total and they are headed by Group 1 winner Veight. The stallion will stand for an unchanged fee of $22,000 (inc GST) in 2024.