Mantua
TRAINER: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
RACE: Quentin Wallace Handicap (1000m)
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Mantua (Fastnet Rock) will look to get off the mark when he lines up over 1000 metres at Moonee Valley this afternoon.
Having his first start as three-year-old, the son of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) ran three times as a juvenile, finishing second on debut over 1000 metres at Sandown-Hillside, before posting a fourth-placed finish at Caulfield and was most recently finishing fifth at Bendigo on July 27.
The colt will jump from barrier two with Beau Mertens set to take the ride and he will face six rivals, including his stablemates Piastri (Choisir) and Epic Proportions (Better Than Ready).
“Not a whole lot between the three of them to be honest, Piastri is a lovely horse in the making and Mantua is a nice horse as well and is going to get a good draw so there’s not a lot between them, but maybe Epic Proportions just around the Valley,” Maher told SENTrack’s Giddy Up.
Mantua was purchased by his trainers for $375,000 from the Newhaven Park draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2022.
The colt is out of three-time New Zealand Group 1 winner Viadana (Towkay), a half-sister to Listed winner Indecision (Per Incanto). Further back this is the same family as Group 2 winner Singing Star (Danasinga), the dam of Group 3 winner Miss Selby (O’Reilly).