Star Godolphin Colt Primed for Manikato

Fresh from defeating subsequent Everest winner Yes Yes Yes in the Group I ATC Golden Rose last month, Godolphin’s blue-blooded Exceed and Excel colt Biouac will chase further Group I glory on Friday night at Moonee Valley when he takes on the older sprinters in the Manikato Stakes (1200m).

“It’s no easy assignment at this early stage of the season to beat the older horses, but over the years the record of three-year-olds has been quite good,” said James Cummings.

“We saw a G1 performance from him in the Golden Rose and he’s had a month between runs to revitalise and ensure that he’s ready for another G1 performance.

“His appearance is pleasing to the eye and his work has been excellent. A little jump-out last week kept him humming and I think he’ll handle The Valley quite well.

“The biggest test will be racing against the older horses. He’s got to prove he’s up to the task.”

Yes Yes Yes ran Bivouac to a short neck in the Golden Rose before beating the best sprinters in the land in course record time at Randwick to win The Everest, a performance that indicates his conqueror should be up to the task at hand.

Godolphin have won the Manikato previously with a three year old colt in 2011 when Sepoy won the race before also taking the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Interestingly, Sepoy and Bivouac hail from the same female family, both horses tracing to Canny Miss, an unraced half-sister by Marscay to Group I winners Canny Lad and Canny Lass. The family has been kind to Godolphin, also giving them Group I winners Camarilla and Guelph, so expect to see Bivouac joining the Darley stallion roster in the future.