Light Infantry Man Snaps a 158 Week Drought in Chester Manifold Stakes

Mark Smith - Thursday November 7

Following his long list of near misses in Europe, including seconds in the Group I Prix D'ispahan, Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and thirds in the Group 1  Queen Anne Stakes, and Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Light Infantry Man (FR) added Thursday's Listed Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington to his success in the 2021 Group III Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury.

The J-Mac magic (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by James McDonald for Ciaron Maher, Light Infantry Man finally had the rub of the green to defeat Globe (Charm Spirit) by two and a quarter lengths with Ain'tnodeeldun (Dundeel) a short-head back in third.

Advertisement

“When the race was unfolding, I said ‘we’ve got a good horse (and) we’ve got the best jockey riding it’, and I just hoped I’d done my job and the horse would run well,” Maher reflected.

“Fortunately, the team have done a good job. He hasn’t really scaled to the heights we expected, but he’s on the right path now.

“He’s a really good horse and we probably haven’t done him justice yet. He had really good European form but his last run was very encouraging. Great ride by James.

“The Flemington carnival is awesome.”

What a run this stable is enjoying (image Grant Courtney)

James McDonald said the 6-year-old son of Fast Company (IRE) would take great benefit from the win.

“He has terrific form overseas in Europe. He’s just lost his way a little bit,” McDonald said.

“Hopefully that gives him a bit of confidence. He can kick on from there because we know how talented he is. Some really good friends of mine are in the horse - Johnny, Brae, all the crew, Ozzie Kheir so a bloody good result.

A reward for some very patient owners (image Grant Courtney)

“He was very energetic and very hypo but they’ve done a good job with him. When I rode him back in Sydney he was slowly away and didn’t want to take part in the trial. Whatever they have done with the barriers has worked because he was enthusiastic away and got into a lovely rhythm.”

A € 25,000 purchase at the 2020 Arqana October Yearlings Sale, Light Infantry Man was an £82,000 buy for Blandford Bloodstock at the 202 Goffs Breeze Up Sale.

Bred by Barbara Moser, he is the best of three winners from five to race for the 4-time winning Kyllachy mare Lights On Me (GB).

Lights On Me was purchased for 330,000gns by BBA Ireland at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mare Sale and now graces the paddock of Yulong Stud.

The daughter of Kyllachy was covered by Lucky Vega in the Northern Hemisphere and foaled a filly in March. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes LR 1600m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:36.42
1
Light Infantry Man
- 6g Fast Company (IRE) x Lights On Me (GB) (Kyllachy (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
2
2.3
Globe
- 6g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Bonnie Doon (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Ethan Brown 54.5
NZB Karaka Book 2 $22,000
Seller: Cambria Park
Buyer: Mr J Naito
3
2.4
Ain'tnodeeldun
- 7g Dundeel (NZ) x Ain'tnofallenstar (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: W Egan 55
Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 $240,000
Seller: Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Anthony Freedman Racing / Blue Sky Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)
4
3.4
Poison Chalice
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x Urban (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Damian Lane 54
5
5.4
Cadmus
- 6g Gleneagles (IRE) x Allegrezza (GB) (Sir Percy (GB))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
6
5.8
Dashing
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Westchester (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: Aaron Purcell Rdr: Declan Bates 54
7
6.1
Rumbled Again
- 7m Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Adulate (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Trotter Rdr: Craig Williams 54
8
7.8
Wascaly
- 7g Complacent (AUS) x Goolagong (IRE) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: Smiley Chan Rdr: J Moreira 54.5
9
8.3
Bankers Choice
- 7g Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Signorina (NZ) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
10
10.3
Uncle Bryn
- 7g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Wall Of Sound (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: N Rawiller 59.5
11
15.3
Jigsaw
- 6g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Demandz (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: L Currie 55
More Reading...
Spring Goals for Progressive Per Incanto
Spring stakes assignments are in the crosshairs for exciting gelding Twain following his victory in the Waihou Tavern (1150m) at Te Aroha on Monday.
$850,000 Extreme Choice Colt Equals MM National Yearling Record
A stunning colt by Extreme Choice equalled the all time record price at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast today when he sold for $850,000.
Brendan Lindsay honoured - Knights of the Cambridge Stud roundtable
The Cambridge Stud legacy continues to grow, with current co-principal Brendan Lindsay appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Brave Blood
With the Group I Queensland Oaks and Derby to both be run at Eagle Farm this Saturday, after appalling weather forced racing to be abandoned last week, there is no chance this year of one horse winning both, but a filly that achieved the feat in 1988 is playing a key role in this year’s carnival.
Light Infantry Man Gets the G1 Australian Cup Map Right
It was a race full of intrigue, of tactics and speed maps, and elite quality, and at the finish it was Light Infantry Man that rose to the occasion to put a new peak on his career in the Group I Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
A Group One Win At Last For A Fascinating Horse
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll said ACDC and Light Infantry Man did them proud when his 11th Group One start produced his first Group One win in the Northerly Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.