The decision to give giant juvenile gelding Manhattan Jazz (NZ) (Niagara) one more run in his current preparation has paid a healthy dividend for local trainer Dean Howard at Hastings on Saturday.
Howard had been contemplating sending the son of Niagara for a decent spell following two unplaced runs at Otaki to kick off his racing career, although he had a gut feeling that his charge had more to offer.
With Saturday’s meeting on his doorstep Howard took the plunge to send the gelding around again and he justified that decision with a powerful finish in the closing stages that carried him to his first career victory.
Ridden confidently by Kate Hercock, who had also taken out the first event on the card aboard another local in Call Me Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry), Manhattan Jazz sat comfortably near the rear of the nine-horse field before commencing a wide run at the 600m.
Still three lengths off the front runners at the 200m Manhattan Jazz lengthened strongly to win going away at the post by just over a length from the three Cambridge visitors in Night Raider (NZ) Belardo), Beyond Skies (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) and race favourite Sacred Dream (NZ) (Sacred Falls).
Howard was delighted that his judgement in lining up Manhattan Jazz for one more run had been vindicated.
“He had had no luck in his first two runs at Otaki as he copped a bad check both times,” he said.
“I just wasn’t sure whether I should turn him out or go again as he is such a big horse, nearly 17 hands and he is still at least six months away from his best.
“In the end the race was on his home track, so I decided to have a shot at it and I’m pretty glad that I did.”
Howard was sure his charge would handle the Heavy 10 surface, however when Hercock told him just how bad it was when he was legging her up in the birdcage he started to have second thoughts.
“Kate said to me that it is the heaviest track she has ever ridden on which started to get me worried given how immature the horse is,” he said.
“Luckily enough he drew wide and she could take her time with him and get him into the best ground out wide in the straight.
“He has finished off really well and I think when he does mature that he will step up over ground without a problem.
“I’m not sure what to do now but my head tells me to put him away for six months and get him back towards the end of summer and I think we might have a pretty good horse on our hands.”
Bred and raced by Chris Russell, Manhattan Jazz is out of the Sakhee’s Secret mare Sakhee Jazz (NZ) and comes from an extended family that includes triple Group One winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral).
