Ideal result gives Manger Saturday night success

Catch up on the weekend’s harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.

THE GOOD

While the COVID-19 has slowed the kilt and bagpipe making business he owns, the current climate has allowed Doug Manger to get back into his other great passion; training pacers.

That passion reached new heights on Saturday at Albion Park after Ideal Tiger was successful, providing Manger his first metropolitan winner as a trainer.

Owned in partnership with wife Karen, the five-year-old gelding used the passing lane to score with Nathan Dawson taking the drive, arriving in time to claim a half-neck victory.

The benefit of a good starting barrier made all the difference, with his recent performances from bad gates suggesting only a change of luck would be required to see a more favourable finish.

Running some superb sectional times at his past three starts, those runs had come from gates nine, three and five, meaning barrier one was a huge improvement on his winning hopes.

With an original plan to attempt to lead, the early speed shown by the outside runner Recipe For Dreaming saw Ideal Tiger take the trail before finishing best to claim victory and a maiden Saturday night training success for his trainer.

Having had Saturday night success as an owner previously - through the former handy performer Enrique Of Malacca - business commitments prevented Manger from being able to prepare horses himself consistently.

Purchasing a new property in late 2019, the plan was to return to training again, having prepared horses ‘on and off’ since 1990.

After purchasing Ideal Tiger from New Zealand for a modest sum, the timing could not have been any better.

“He was only a cheapie, but it has worked out perfectly,” Manger explained.

“He arrived just as COVID hit and to be honest, I would not have bought him in from New Zealand if I knew shutdowns were about to happen.”

Having his first start in the Kilt Hire Australia colours for the Mangers on March 14, the signs were positive that the gelding by American Ideal would prove competitive in Brisbane.

It was at start number three when Ideal Tiger scored his first Australian victory, arriving in the closing stages to win by a narrow margin at Marburg.

Further victories at Albion Park and Marburg followed, with his three wins all coming when driven by Clint Sneddon.

With Sneddon unavailable as he battles ill-health, Nathan Dawson was given the opportunity to take the reins.

“I gave the drive to Nathan a few weeks back and after his first drive, we discussed how I work the horse - Nathan suggested I tinker with his workout regime which I did,” the trainer said.

“It seems to have just given him a little bit more speed and Saturday night it worked a treat, having that zip to get there in time.”

With just a 450-metre track on the home property, Ideal Tiger does his fast work at the Marburg track.

Another technique in his preparation is that he is trained from the paddock and is only put into a yard at feed time, with the remainder of his time spent roaming across twenty acres.

“He has the run of the place, he only comes in for a feed and the rest of the time he just wanders -he is just such a beautiful natured horse,” Manger said.

The Manger/Dawson combination has been successful in recent weeks, with another pacer that is owned by Manger – Faireachdainn – winning twice in the past month.

That filly is trained by Mitchell Dawson with Nathan driving the three-year-old at both Redcliffe victories.

Sired by Mr Feelgood, Faireachdainn translates to ‘feelings’ in Gaelic, with the maiden-breaking win at Redcliffe also securing connections a $10,000 first win QBRED bonus.

“It has actually been a good time despite the COVID; between the two horses, they are actually paying the mortgage,” Doug remarked with a laugh.

With the two horses racing at present, the Manger team also includes a three-year-old by Sweet Lou yet to race and another new addition that will hopefully be seen in the new season.

“He is a QBRED and still has a second-win bonus left in him, so hopefully we can get that with him in a few months’ time,” Manger said.

“But as we say, we don’t have race-horses, we have race pets,” joked Manger, who is more than happy with how his latest venture in panning out.

Business may be slow, but the smile could not be bigger for Doug Manger.

THE BAD

Favourite backers were left reeling last Wednesday night at Redcliffe following the relegation of Nikalong Henry.

Having previously been plagued by bad manners at the start, this time it was at the end of the race where the gelding was up to his old tricks.

Looking to have the race won after leading throughout the 1780-metre journey, as Nikalong Henry approached the winning post, he was off-stride and crossed the finishing line in the incorrect gait.

Under rule 155A the stewards were obliged to relegate Nikalong Henry to 2^nd placing and promote Holdingno Currency to first placing.

A rule that is not often seen, it is the third instance of this rule that stewards have had to enforce in the past six months - the others being Tori May on February 29 and Youknowwhat on July 30.

A bad beat for those that had backed the favourite.

THE WILDCARD

Greg The Great has been a source of great frustration for trainer Graham Dwyer and that was no more evident than Saturday night.

You would not think that winning in great style would prove frustrating, however that is exactly the case; his dominant 16-metre victory showing just how great the square gaiter can be when on his game.

Speared off the gate under the mobile conditions, driver Pete McMullen kept the power on all the way over the mile.

Doing it all himself out in front, Greg The Great stopped the clock in a mile rate of 1.55.1, shaving 0.6 off the previous record.

The win saw the seven-year-old eclipse $100,000 in stakes earnings, bringing up his 13^th Albion Park victory.

It has been a continual work-in-progress for Dwyer, who has done a stellar job in getting Greg The Great to perform in the manner he has.

The gelding has struggled for confidence in his racing manners for successive starts, so to reach his current level is a great testament to Dwyer’s training skills.

Asking the likable trainer how he will help bolster Greg The Great’s confidence even further- “I think if he had his name on the running rail as the track record holder like they have for the pacers, it might just get him right in the zone!”

THE MILESTONE

Adam Sanderson is the latest Queensland driver to enter the 100-win club following success aboard My Mastercraftsman on Friday night at Albion Park.

Entering the meeting on 98 wins, Sanderson moved to 99 with the success of Thats How Weroll after the third event on the card.

Not wasting any time moving into triple figures, the ton was realised just one race later.

Both his Friday night winners are prepared by Ian Gurney, with Sanderson having recently joined the larrikin trainer at his Chambers Flat stables as foreman and leading driver.

It is the second time the New Zealand-born reinsman has reached the century mark, having finished the 2017-18 season on exactly 100 wins.

Moving past his best season was also quickly achieved when win 101 was notched aboard the Shawn Grimsey trained Rubies For Tash Saturday gone.

With two weeks left in the season, the new benchmark looks set to rise.

THIS WEEK

Group racing has drawn to a close after Saturday night’s APG Final, however that does not mean the race calendar is not packed full of options.

Starting on Monday August 17, there will be seven consecutive days of harness action in Queensland.

This week, Redcliffe will play host to four meetings - Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Albion Park will host its usual three meetings on Tuesday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday night.

Following agreement between the Albion Park Club, sponsor Ultimate Tools and Racing Queensland, there will be twelve races added to the existing program for two-year-old and three-year-old pacers.

The first of those will be held this Saturday night for two-year-olds, along with a rug and trophy to the winner - the trainer and driver will also receive a $250 voucher.

The winning owner will receive a $500 voucher, courtesy of sponsor Ultimate Tools.