By Brodie Nickson – Sky Racing
Will Hulbert is confident consistent gelding Hail Manhattan will handle rising to the mile in Saturday’s Rockhampton Cup despite missing a key lead-up run due to the postponement of last weekend’s Sunshine Coast meeting.
Producing a strong second-up performance behind Away Game in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes over 1200 metres at Eagle Farm, Hulbert had planned to back-up the four-year-old over three consecutive weekends culminating into North Queensland’s $150,000 feature mile.
“It was not ideal missing the Glasshouse Handicap on the weekend so he will be going from 1200 metres up to the mile, but Wiggo (Ryan Wiggins) came and galloped him for me at Eagle Farm on Sunday morning,” Hulbert said.
“He is a very clean winded horse so hopefully he is fit enough, but we will be holding our breath in the last hundred.”
Hulbert has been impressed by the four-year-old gelding’s consistent progression after he won three straight races last preparation, culminating in the Listed Members Cup in February.
“He has been a horse that has snuck up on us. He showed okay ability early on and just keeps improving,” Hulbert said.
“After his first few gallops when he came back into work this preparation, I said to the owner we might be in for something pretty special because I think this horse has improved.
“Once he learnt how to win, he has built a really nice record now with the six wins from 20 starts.”
Resuming with a fantastic first-up effort when beaten two lengths behind Usmanov over 1000 metres, Hail Manhattan continued to impress, contesting Group 3 grade second-up.
“The other day was a forget run really, we just had to go back from the alley and just cop it on the chin,” Hulbert said.
“He was on Away Game’s back at the top of the straight and she was just too sharp, but to only be beaten four-and-a-half lengths by Away Game in a Group 3, it’s not bad form for a Rockhampton Cup.”
In another boost to Hail Manhattan’s chances, 2020 Rockhampton Cup winning jockey Ryan Wiggins has been booked to take the ride.
“If we draw a barrier, we have Wiggo on so we will definitely look to go forward and he is the king of Rocky,” Hulbert said.
“I think he (Wiggins) and the horse will match up very well together. He’s been coming in and galloping him a fair bit so he’s getting to know the horse well.”
Enjoying an excellent season in the saddle, Wiggins is pleased with how the horse is travelling but does hold the same slight queries as Hulbert after missing Saturdays run.
“The horse is obviously going very well but just a little underdone maybe, missing the Glasshouse meeting Saturday, but he will race well and should be 100% leading into the Mackay Cup,” Wiggins said.