"He had a really quiet early two-year-old preparation so we'll continue to
press forward and he will head to the Wanganui Guineas," trainer Lisa Latta
said.A debut winner on the course in June before he won again at Awapuni last month, Manhattan Street was taken straight to the front by Jonathan Riddell and with a minimum of persuasion he romped clear in the straight.
"We took bad luck out of the equation and he won really well," Latta said. "He's a colt who is getting better and better and he's bred to stay."
He had six and a half lengths on Cortado at the post with Impulsive Habit taking third ahead of Mongolian Wolf.
Raced by Lincoln Farms, Neville McAlister and Wellfield Lodge, Manhattan Street is by Redoute's Choice's Group I winning half-brother Manhattan Rain.
"He's a lovely horse and a pleasure to ride," Riddell said.
Manhattan Street's performance was the final act of the day with visibility issues forcing an early end.
"Up to race five the races were run without incident, but between then and the Ryder Stakes we had a massive downpour on an already Heavy 11 track and it became impossible for riders to see out there so we had to abandon the meeting," stipendiary steward Neil Goodwin said.
Manhattan Street is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Charming Estelle who is a sister to the multiple Group I winning sprinter Lankan Rupee from the family of champion racehorse and sire Lonhro.
He was offered as a weanling at the Magic Millions Teeley Assets Reduction in 2014 fetching $130,000 and his dam Charming Estelle was sold at the same sale for $400,000.
She is now with Arrowfield Stud and after missing to Pierro in 2014 was sent to Japan last year for a service to champion sire Deep Impact.
Interestingly there are six mares now back in Australia that were covered by Deep Impact with Charming Estelle joined by Alinghi, Alverta, Lucky Raquie, Star Fashion and You're So Good.
These mares will produce the very first Australian born foals by the champion son of Sunday Silence later this year.
Manhattan Street is the seventh stakes-winner for Manhattan Rain, who stands at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $16,500.
