Dominant meet for Manzelmann

THE John Manzelmann stable has flexed its sizeable muscle.

Mackay-based Manzelmann, a previous winner of the Queensland Country Trainers’ Premiership, secured five winners across two different tracks on Saturday afternoon including the prized $13,000 Cooktown Cup Benchmark 65 Handicap (1700m).

He and in-form Far North hoop Wanderson D’Avila combined for two of the winners, including the Cup with French Song, while fellow local jockeys Stephen Wilson and Amanda Thomson also collected one each for the powerful Mackay stable.

While Manzelmann sent a strong team north to Cooktown, he also sent horses southwest to the Moranbah Race Club where Bawaardi Rocket claimed one of the five races on offer.

After heavy rain soaked the Cooktown Amateur Turf Club track on Saturday, the track favoured the leaders and after the first five races D’Avila knew exactly where he was sending five-year-old mare.

“She jumped really well, I decided to go to the front,” D’Avila said.

“She was travelling well, I got to the 400m and let her go.

“She was a bit tired in the end there, the other horse kept coming and coming but we got there. It was a great win.”

Slade Amigos, trained and ridden by Townsville pair Ronald Finch and Bonnie Thomson, fought in the closing stages of the Cup but fell a nose short.

French Song, by Court Command from Piaf, overturned some recent poor form to claim the Cooktown Cup, not running in the top three her last three starts before Saturday.

“It was great to see John get four winners, they were all leaders,” D’Avila said.

“It was a good day. I consider myself lucky to be able to ride for a trainer like John.”

Of the Cooktown races not won by Manzelmann, Cairns trainer Trevor Rowe and Renee Schluenz collected one each.

Cooktown is the second oldest turf club in Queensland.

Racing in North Queensland turns to Townsville on Thursday and Mackay on Friday before Herbert River Jockey Club hosts this Saturday.