Manhattan Flame to keep partners hot at Pukekohe

Further success beckons a long and successful international partnership at Pukekohe Park today with the promising Manhattan Flame.

The three-year-old is prepared at Cambridge by Shane Crawford for Hong Kong-based owner Tony Chan.

“I spent 10 years in Macau and used to ride a lot of work on his horses there,” Crawford said. “I’ve been friends with Tony for over 25 years.

“We’ve had a lot of success and hopefully that all continues. I’ve got quite a few horses for Tony and he sells some, others go up to Hong Kong, depending on permits, and some stay here.”

Manhattan Flame will attempt to maintain his unbeaten record for the pair in the Campbell Tyson 1200 following his winning debut at Woodville earlier this month.

“We were pretty confident with him there,” Crawford said. “He gets through the wet ground well and he has trained on nicely since.

“We’ve had issues with his feet, but he’s right now. He should go very well again.” Troy Harris will ride Manhattan Flame and he will also partner stablemate Kool Connection in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race. The Iffraaj filly has finished runner-up in two of her last three starts.

“Her last run at Matamata for second was really good and the long straight at Counties will suit her,” Crawford said.

Meanwhile, Tegan Abel has an opportunity to bounce straight back into winning form when she resumes race day riding for a new boss at today’s Counties meeting.

The 21-year-old, who rode two winners during a short stint with Graeme Rogerson, is now under the guidance of Pukekohe trainers Matthew and Michael Rogers.

Abel has been off the scene for two years, although she has been riding trackwork for the majority of that time.

Abel will resume her career aboard Bold Bachelor in the Campbell Tyson 1200.