Maneo Invictus eyes black type start

Thames washed out

Tony Bambry is eyeing a stakes opportunity for Maneo Invictus, whose racing career is drawing to a close.

The Awapuni horseman bred, part-owns and trains the Volksraad mare and his future plans will depend on the four-yearold’s performance in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race at Otaki today.

‘‘If she wins then I’ll look at the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes to get some black type for her,’’ Bambry said. ‘‘She’s had a few joint issues and she’s in foal to Iffraaj and that seems to have made a difference to her.’’

Maneo Invictus, who also suffered a broken pelvis as a twoyear-old, was a winner on her home track two starts back and then she finished well to run fourth at her most recent appearance at Rotorua.

Bambry has successfully chased Pearl Series Races with his team with Maneo Invictus having bagged one at Waipukurau in 2015 and a race her stablemate How Perfect was successful in last year.

Meanwhile, last-start Hawke’s Bay winner Alcaldesa will also be looking to add to her record before The Thames Jockey Club’s Cup annual meeting will now be run on Sunday, after rain washed it out yesterday.

Abandoned due to concerns about the safety of the track, the meeting was rescheduled after talks between the club NZ Thoroughbred Racing and the Trainers’ Association.

Persistent light rain had altered the track surface. After two race morning inspections by Racing Integrity Unit stewards and club officials, the meeting was called off.

The picnic-atmosphere Thames meeting usually attracts massive crowds of Coromandel Peninsula holidaymakers.

Nominations will close at noon today, with withdrawals tomorrow at 10am.

her pending retirement.

‘‘She’s in foal to Savabeel and she seems to have strengthened up more,’’ Bambry said. ‘‘We’ll be looking at the Marton Cup and the Trentham Stakes with her.’’

Recent stable successes have also eased the disappointment of the temporary loss of the talented filly Enchanting Secret.

The winner of one of her eight starts, the Per Incanto filly was a last-start fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes.

‘‘She’s had a bone chip taken off a knee so she’ll be out for six months,’’ Bambry said. ‘‘Hopefully, she’ll come back, but we’ll probably have to restrict her to the softer tracks.’’