WARWICK CUP: JONSON ENJOYS VICTORY
WARWICK CUP WIN: Manfred The Man takes out Allman Park feature race
EXCITING Charleville five-year-old Manfred The Man handed trainer Ed Jonson his biggest race-track thrill when he steamed to an explosive win in Saturday’s Warwick Credit Union Warwick Cup (1500m).
Manfred The Man claimed the $25,000 Allman Park feature with a bold front-running display for apprentice Brendon Newport.
The $3.25 favourite wrapped up his ninth career win from 21 starts with four lengths to spare from solid-finishing Extreme Mover ($6).
Ellie La Vie ($5.50) was a further 1¼ lengths back third.
“This is by far my biggest racing moment,” said Jonson, who works as a livestock manager at the Charleville goat abattoir and was making his first visit to Allman Park.
Jonson bought Manfred The Man from fellow trainer Ducky Baker on Melbourne Cup day last year.
The gelding has now won eight races for Jonson, who has three horses in work, including the Quilpie and Morven cups.
Seven of those wins have come at his last 10 starts.
“He’s a good little horse,” Jonson said. “I also accepted with him in the Cunnamulla Cup today but I’ve had this race in mind for him for a while.
“I thought the race fell away a bit and he likes this trip so I’m glad now I made my first trip to Warwick.
“I’ll take him home now and have a think about what to do next but I might have a go at the Roma Cup with him next month.”
The cup win continued Newport’s successful association with Manfred The Man.
“I’ve ridden him in a lot of his starts and that’s my fourth win on him,” Newport said.
“I was very confident of his chances today.
“Ed and me have been talking about this race for a while and his last win in the Morven Cup was very good.
“He gave me the best feeling today I’ve had from him.
“I’ve never had to swing against him as hard in the run as I did today.”
Saturday’s Newmarket Handicap (1100m) was won by Blooded ($4.75) for Kooralbyn trainer Kelvin Hickmott and apprentice Faith Elliott.
He downed $4.50 favourite Mount Kosciuszko by 1¼ lengths.
SATURDAY’S $11,000 Cunnamulla Cup (1400m) was won by the Raymond Frazer-trained Crawfish (Cheryl Rogers, $5).