Manighar, owned by a group whose principal partner is prominent American horse owner Earle I. Mack, will seek to become the first horse to sweep three prestigious group I races in Australia when he attempts the BMW Cup at Rosehill Racecourse April 7.
A 6-year-old French-bred son of Linamix, Manighar has already won the Australian Cup and Ranvet Stakes, both group I, and will be seeking the hat trick in the 1 1/2-mile, Aus$2.3 million BWM Cup.
“The BMW Cup has been our target since deciding to keep the horse in Australia,” Mack said. “His former trainer, Luca Cumani, turned a fit horse over to Peter Moody, who has transitioned Manighar from a good stayer into a brilliant, classic-distance horse”.
Manighar won the Carylon Cup (Aus-III) in his first start for Moody and subsequently added the two group I races to his resume. He has raced in France, England, and Australia.
“He looked good at a mile and he looked good at a mile-and-a-quarter, I just hope he looks as good at a mile-and-a-half,” Moody said in a statement. “He’s been thereabouts in Melbourne Cups, so you wouldn’t think the distance holds too many barriers for him.”
In the BMW Cup, Manighar will face rival Americain , who beat him in the 2011 Melbourne Cup at about two miles. On March 9, Americain ran third to Manighar in his Australian Cup win.
The BWM Cup is being aired on TVG Friday, April 6.
“I am thrilled to be in this position with my partners,” Mack said. “The race will be on TVG this Friday evening and the very thought of being part of racing history in Australia adds to an already exciting race.”