| Manzoice emerged as one of the country’s brightest young staying prospects with a strong win in today’s $2 million Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington. |
| Producing a big finishing burst in the famous Flemington straight, Manzoice swept the day’s feature race for the in-form combination of Chris Waller and Michael Dee. Like the runner-up Sharp ‘n’ Smart, Manzoice was backing up after running seven days ago in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney. Manzoice was sent out a $21 chance with bookies after a closing effort in the Spring Champion. He relished the step to the classic distance and became the third Magic Millions sold yearling to win the Derby in four years. The “Winx team” of trainer Chris Waller and bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster teamed up to purchase Manzoice for $340,000 from the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds on the Gold Coast. Manzoice was Lot 157 at the 2021 Gold Coast Yearling Sale – exactly 100 lots before the sale of an I Am Invincible-Eloping filly, who now known as In Secret, won today’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes. Waller’s Assistant Trainer and Racing Manager Charlie Duckworth told Channel 10 that Manzoice appreciated today’s track conditions and journey of the Derby. “Terrific performance from the horse and it’s been the plan all the way through and things haven’t gone his way with wide draws and wet tracks but we’ve stuck solid with the plan that we set out to do.” “It was a beautiful ride from Micky Dee. It was obviously looking like he was going to be a bit unlucky on the turn but he kept persevering, trying to get out and he knuckled down really well in the last 100 metres.” “He’s a horse who I think will improve more with racing. He’s still a bit doughy mentally and doesn’t really know what he’s all there for which is why we’ve got the winkers on which was the exact same gear that Preferment wore when he won the Derby for Chris a few years ago. Maybe it is the magic winkers that got the job done today.” “It’s terrific for the Flannerys who own the horse and who just stepped into ownership in the last couple of years. They’ve been loyal to us and been investing a good sum of money.” “It’s a massive thing. Obviously there’s a Derby in different states but this is the first one and it’s Derby Day – the raceday is named after the race. It’s the feature, it’s the grand final and to pull it off is quite remarkable really,” Duckworth added. The win capped a remarkable seven days for popular local rider Michael Dee who teamed up with Waller two weeks ago to win the Caulfield Cup. “It’s unbelievable,” a beaming Dee said. “I really have to thank Chris Waller and his team. Once again, he’s presented this horse here in tip top shape.” “Walking around the yard I thought he’s certainly a Derby horse. He’s just so calm, got such a big stride on him and it all panned out. He was very strong.” “I was very happy early and then the tempo came out of the race and it just got a bit tricky from the mile onwards when we were getting pushed around by horses inside and out.” “We were just starting to edge toward the outside and he really let down strong when we got into the clear.” “He’s a big strong horse and he was able to buffet his way out and I always was confident he was going to be strong the last furlong. He’s done a great job.” Manzoice is the first Group One winner for Wootton Bassett’s French Group One winning son Almanzor – a member of the Cambridge Stud roster in New Zealand. The Derby winner’s dam, the Mastercraftsman mare Choice was a group winner of three races headlined by victory in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes. Her other runner is a winner over 1400 metres in New Zealand. In a remarkable co-incidence Choice produced a full sister to Manzoice for breeder Stephanie Hole this morning. The Derby triumph was one of six stakes victories for Magic Millions graduates on a massive day of racing. In Secret swept the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes, Zennzella the Group Two Wakeful Stakes, Perfect Thought the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes, Asfoora the Group Three Furphy Sprint and Morty the Listed John Letts Cup. Also among the big winners of the day was the $62,500 Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase Private Eye who won the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes taking his earnings to over $6.15 million for his buyers Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride. Winner: Manzoice Breeding: Almanzor-Choice (Mastercraftsman) Breeder: Ms Stephanie Hole Race: VRC Victoria Derby G1 (2500m) Sold for: $340,000 Sale: 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent) Buyer: Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock Earnings: $1,487,075 Owners: B Flannery, Mrs PA Flannery, TD Flannery & QJ Flannery Trainer: Chris Waller (Flemington) |
