Wide draw an unwanted barrier for Manaal in the Light Fingers Stakes

A sparse spring and an extended break have provided an ideal foundation for standout filly Manaal to make her presence felt in the Sydney autumn carnival, beginning with the Light Fingers Stakes.

With owners Emirates Park eager to keep the three-year-old in racing beyond this season, trainer Michael Freedman decided to give her a break after three spring carnival runs to help extend her career.

Thrilled with how she has returned, Freedman believes the decision was worthwhile.

“It was good to give her a nice spell and she really enjoyed it,” Freedman said.

“Her owner has always expressed a desire to try to have a filly that could potentially race on as a four-year-old mare, so there was a little bit of that in the thinking as well, giving her every opportunity to potentially race on at four, rather than reaching a point in her three-year-old year where she was a spent force.”

Manaal had a demanding two-year-old season, culminating in her victory in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). She remained competitive across all three spring starts, which included a Furious Stakes (1200m) triumph.

An unfortunate draw in barrier 11 of 14 has slightly dampened Freedman’s confidence for this weekend, and he acknowledges that she will need some luck and a well-executed ride from Jason Collett.

“We will have to give some thought to how we ride her from out there because it is a sticky sort of barrier,” he said.

“But if Jason can navigate a good path on her and give her as soft a run as possible early, she can be running home late. I’m really happy with where she’s at.”

If all goes well, Manaal will take a traditional route to the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in two weeks. Depending on how she performs early in her campaign, Freedman may even consider a winter carnival run in Queensland.

“I’ll take those two races at the moment and have a think after that,” Freedman said.

“Longer-term, she could potentially campaign in Brisbane for a race like the Stradbroke (Handicap). Three-year-olds have a very good record in that down in the weights, so that’s in the back of my mind.”

As is often the case, the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) has drawn a compelling field of accomplished and emerging fillies, featuring Golden Slipper champion Lady Of Camelot, Flight Stakes winner Lady Shenandoah, and the undefeated Dance To The Boom.