Manning Secures Hard Earned Group 1 Win
Justin Prentice has continued a strong run of success in juvenile feature races with the talented Manning taking out the Group 1 Pearl Classic (2130m) at Gloucester Park last night.
Having already taken out the colts and geldings division of the Sales Classic earlier this year, Prentice added last night’s $100,000 two-year-old event to the growing list of achievements.
Expertly driven by Chris Lewis, Manning was put into the race in the back straight on the final lap and was well poised to run down stablemate Aristocratic Star on the turn for home.
The Sportswriter gelding then stormed over the top of Aristocratic Star and rated 1.58.8 in the 3m victory.
Aristocratic Star ensured another stable quinella in a Group 1 for Prentice, while Tenacious George was third.
It was a fifth success in the race for Lewis, the most recent of those came in 2017 with Jack Mac.
The champion reinsman said Manning was still learning the caper and suggested he was a slightly less advanced than Jack Mac at the same stage.
“He’s a nice horse that’s inexperienced and still has a bit to learn,” he told RWWA Harness.
“He’s still coming forward, whereas Jack Mac was just a natural.”
Manning is likely to progress to the colts and geldings division of the Group 1 Westbred Classic on June 29.
Lewis also took out the three-year-old Westsired Classic with My Prayer.
Tim Walker
Image: Scott Hamilton