Manfred Stakes – 2022

Track: Good Weather: Fine

The early scratching of Ranch Hand leaves a field of seven for the $200,000 Group 3 Manfred Stakes.   Two of these are trained by Maher & Eustace and two are trained by James Cummings and the Godolphin operation.  Four of them resume from a spell.  The early favourite in the betting is one of the Cummings runners, Paulele.  He was dominant winning The Rosebud first up last preparation and trialed up well last week at Randwick.  Generation is the current second favourite.  He won the Red Anchor Stakes at his last start in October.

Unflinching is a perfect three wins from three starts but will need to tick the 1200m box if he is to remain unbeaten.  Marine One is fit and racing well, while Linas Legend won two of his three starts last preparation.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Paulele

First up.  Has a very strong record with five wins from ten starts and form around some quality horses such as In The Congo & Home Affairs last preparation.  His recent Randwick trial was sound and he maps to get a good run in behind the speed here for Damian Oliver.  Rates highly.

2. Generation

Resumes.  Slightly disappointing first up last preparation but was very good at two subsequent runs.  Has jumped out very well at Cranbourne leading in and should land outside lead.  Key winning chance.

3. Zethus

Second of the Godolphin colts.   Thought his trials were average at best however he can boast a win over the Coolmore winner Home Affairs in his first preparation.  Consider for multiples.

4. Ranch Hand – SCR

5. Marine One

Has been up for a while now but continues to race well.  Latest, was a good second behind the subsequent winner In The Boat here on January 8.  Maybe lacking the class here though and 1200m has to be a query.

6. Unflinching

Unbeaten colt trained by team Freedman.  Returned from a short break with a dominant Moonee Valley victory over 1000m.  Try’s 1200m for the first time here but looks capable of running it and should get every favour from the front.  Can win.

7. Umgawa

Comes back to 1200m after running second to Decent Raine at Flemington second up.  Has a fitness edge on some of these but doubt he has the class to threaten.  Place chance at best.

8. Linas Legend

Another of the resumers.  He is a talented colt trained by Danny O’Brien who won twice last preparation.  Wasn’t asked to do much in his recent Geelong trial.  Think he is looking for further but wouldn’t shock to see him run a race fresh.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes 2022 (Caulfield 1000m)