‘Menari the Ferrari’ belts them in Run To The Rose

Tom Walter - Saturday September 9

Menari's dominant victory in Saturday's Group II Run To The Rose (1200m) earned praise of the highest order from trainer Gerald Ryan and completed a Group II treble for jockey Josh Parr.

Advertisement
Menari races away with the Group II Run To The Rose. Photo: Steve Hart

Ryan, who has prepared a wealth of thoroughbred talent in his years of training, believes Menari could end up in the same company as his sire Snitzel.

"I thought I was lucky enough to have a horse like Snitzel who I thought was a very good horse," Ryan said.

"Probably the best horse I had since Snitzel was Snitzerland, then along came Rubick. Never saw the best of Rubick, but this horse in the autumn, what he showed us before he raced I thought 'this is a fair dinkum, genuine horse'.

"The way he worked last Friday morning, I reckon there's only been two other horses I've clocked sectionals as quick as him and that's been Chautauqua and All Too Hard when they were flying. He burnt the track last Friday."

Standing at 16.3 hands and weighing 570kg race-fit, Menari's raw power was in full throttle when he burst to the front at the 200m mark of the Run To The Rose, leaving Peter and Paul Snowden's colt Pariah in his wake.

Caller Darren Flindell appropriately named Ryan's colt 'Menari the Ferrari' at the post as Pariah crossed the line 1-1/2 lengths behind in second. The Paul Perry-trained Perast ($101) was beaten the same margin back in third.

Parr, who had won on stablemate Deploy and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Gold Standard earlier in the day, completed a clean sweep of the meeting's three Group II events.

Whilst he said the treble didn't quite compare to winning a Group I, the in-form rider said it was the next best thing.

"Group Is are obviously the pinnacle and extra special but three Group IIs in a day is pretty good too," Parr said.

"I drove here with my Dad and I said, I can ride three winners today and I've only got three rides. My Dad is a very quietly spoken man. He replied with, 'let's hope so', and sure enough I did it.

"I've known for some time now how good this horse is but you've got to keep a lid on things because you know what horse racing is like, anything can happen, but it's an absolute delight to sit on his back that's for sure."

Menari has tightened his grip on favouritism for the Group I Golden Rose (1400m) back at Rosehill in a fortnight, firming from $5 into $2.40 with Sportsbet.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Menari to Stand at Newgate Farm This Spring
Newgate Farm is delighted to announce an exciting late addition to the 2018 stallion roster with freakishly talented Snitzel sprinter Menari joining the team.
Inglis Nursery Runners Well Rewarded
It wasn't just about the winner of the $400,000 Inglis Nursery with a Pink Bonus collected and a Best Turned Out award also presented on the race won by Inglis Digital purchase Where's the Circus.
First Foal for Menari
One of the very best colts competing in the Sydney spring of 2017 when winning the Group II ATC Run to the Rose and finishing third in the Group I ATC Golden Rose, brilliant Snitzel son Menari has his first foals arriving this spring for Newgate Farm.
Extreme Choice Colt wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
What began as a bold new initiative in August 2024, the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series has rapidly grown into one of the most lucrative racehorse ownership incentive schemes in Australian racing history.
Zoustar 4YO Secures Stradbroke Start
There were three stakes races at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but strangely, the richest race on the card carries no Black Type, but offers something far more valuable as the winner of the $300,000 The Gateway (1400m) earns a golden ticket into the $3million Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap in 2026.
Weight a concern for Menari in Rosebud
Gerald Ryan’s Menari will have to break a weight-carrying record to take out Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill.
Ka Ying Rising Leads Kiwi Bred Domination of G1 HK International Sprint
It was a Kiwi bred first four in the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) on Sunday with raging hot favourite Ka Ying Rising extending his unbeaten sequence to 16 wins as fans and punters expected.
French Trained Sea the Stars Stallion Wins G1 HK Vase
The big ones at Sha Tin kicked off on International Day with the Group I HK International Vase (2400m) for the stayers and in a year when the French have been on fire all around the world it was French trained Sea the Stars stallion Sosie that took the prize.
Aussie Bred Voyage Bubble Goes Back to Back in G1 HK International Mile
Torryburn Stud have bred and sold some great horses, but none better than Deep Field gelding Voyage Bubble, who scored a tenacious victory in the Group I HK International Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday for the second year in a row.
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 13
Here is the full list of 115 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.