At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Manaal bounced out of her debut trial to win the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes while Gerringong went amiss and did not make her debut until a year later, but on the score of raw ability there may not be much between them and it showed on Saturday.
The Michael Freedman trained Manaal was coming off a last start win in the Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes, while Gerringong was returning to Sydney after a couple of fourth placings in Group and Listed races in Melbourne.
Gerringong set the tempo, but was overpowered by Manaal who forged clear for Tommy Berry to win by three-quarters of a length.
Bred and retained to race by Emirates Park as was the previous winner Marhoona (Listed Heritage Stakes, read about her here), Manaal has the impressive record of six wins and three placings from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $1.9million.
“When Tommy came out, he obviously drew the same gate as Marhoona in the race before and pretty much ended up in the same spot,” said Michael Freedman.
“So I'm really thrilled just to have this mare back, going as well as she is because she's been going since she was a 2YO in the spring and she was sort of out in the wilderness a little bit for probably eight or nine months.
“Then to come back from a disappointing run at Caulfield and then win the Sheraco and then back it up here today, it's a big thrill.”
As a four year-old, the $10million ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) will no doubt be a big consideration for Manaal going forward and the $2million ATC Invitation for mares on October 25 will also hold plenty of appeal.
Manaal is the best of three winners from four foals to race from Midshipman mare Red Lodge (USA), a stakes-winning half-sister to stakes-winner Good Like Magic and a granddaughter of the exceptional dual Group I winner Memories Of Silver.
Red Lodge produced a colt by Justify (USA) last spring and then missed to Tassort so will have no foal this year.
Manaal is the first stakes-winner of the new season for Tassort, who stands at Newgate at a fee of $38,500.
