Manaal gets Newgate’s Tassort off to the perfect start
Newgate Farm-based first–season sire Tassort (Brazen Beau) got his career off to the best possible start when his daughter Manaal (Tassort) produced an impressive display to win the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Randwick.
Making her debut following a third-placed effort in an 843-metre trial at Randwick-Kensington on September 18, the Michael Freedman-trained filly was sent off a $21 chance in the market but exceeded her market expectations by some way.
Ridden by Tommy Berry, Manaal came home well down the centre of the track and stuck her neck out to deny the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a clean sweep of the juvenile stakes races, with their filly Celestial Bling (Capitalist) finishing a short-head away in second. Fellow fast closer Repose (Russian Revolution) just a head further back in third place.
“It’s a big thrill all round. Emirates [Park, owners] have been very good to me this year, giving me a couple of these Tassorts,” Freedman said.
“It’s a terrific result for them, owning the stallion, and they’ve supported him heavily. It’s terrific to get a result like that and for Tommy [Berry] because we’ve got a long association. He’s been doing it hard the last six to eight months, and I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.
“I think there’s better to come. I told the owners before the race that whatever she does today will be great, but I can’t wait to see her in the autumn. She’ll have a nice little break now, and we might be there in the autumn.
“I thought her trial was a little better than perhaps it looked visually. She has always shown us a lot at home, and the other day in the trial, she had to get down on the rail to make a run and was very timid among them.
“We had a plan today; we wanted to give her plenty of clear galloping room because she worked so well here on Tuesday. It panned out perfectly, and I’m so happy for Tommy with all his trials and tribulations over the last six or eight months.”
The race has proved a happy hunting ground for Emirates Park, who landed the Group 3 in 2020 with Enthaar (Written Tycoon).
Tommy Berry, who returned to race-riding on September 24 following a seven-month suspension, was delighted with the victory.
“I promised I wouldn’t get emotional, and then these guys (his children) come along. It’s been a long road; I learnt so much about myself while I was off,” Berry said.
“I built such a good relationship with my kids; it’s just made me come into racing with a new lease on life, a new way of looking at things. There are so many people that I thank; my family, my friends, and my manager, Paul Joice, for sticking with me. I gave him hell these last six months. Dad at home, I love you mate.
“She bounced really well, and I actually sent Michael Freedman [trainer] a message last night and said, ‘Is she alright?’ She kept blowing in the market, but we knew she just had so much improvement coming out of the first trial. All of Michael’s do, but full credit to the team. Gee, Michael has a good team this year, I can’t wait.”
The second foal out of the stakes-winning Midshipman (Unbridled’s Song) mare Red Lodge, Manaal, who was providing her sire Tassort with a first stakes winner from just two runners, is a half-sister to recent Warwick Farm scorer Fightertown (Snitzel).
Manaal’s owners and breeders Emirates Park bought Red Lodge for US$500,000 at the 2018 edition of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Red Lodge has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and was covered by Zoustar (Northern Meteor) last spring.
Tassort is out of the blue hen mare Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), making him a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy) and Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner turned Darley stallion Astern (Medaglia D’Oro).
Tassort covered 137 mares in his first year, 181 in his second, and 132 in his third and he is standing for the fourth consecutive time at a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).