After having to settle for a minor role behind big brother Anthony and his filly Ameena in the first leg of the Princess Series, Michael Freedman has been delighted to see Manaal turn the tables in the Furious Stakes at Randwick.
The Group 1 winner resumed with a narrow third in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) last month, but with the benefit of a three-kilo weight turnaround on Saturday, she tipped the balance in her favour to edge out Ameena by a head.
It was a welcome role reversal for Michael Freedman, who has been hosting his Victorian-based brother during his Sydney stay and was disappointed not to get the win first-up.
“He went out and celebrated, I went home and kicked the cat,” Michael Freedman said of the Silver Shadow Stakes aftermath.
“He can stay a few more nights now.
“It’s a big relief as much as anything. You always like to see those two-year-olds who have had a good two-year-old season come back and do it at three.
“I certainly wasn’t disappointed with her run the other day, she was a bit above herself in the parade beforehand and she was much better today. The three kilos pull in the weights made all the difference.”
Manaal ($2.25 fav) and Ameena ($4.80) both settled back in the field and made their runs together down the outside, with Lazzura ($14) doing a good job at her first appearance of the spring to grab third, another half-length away.
Freedman confirmed the winner would press on to the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in two weeks’ and given her biggest success came over that track and distance in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes, he is looking forward to the challenge.
Ameena is also headed to the Tea Rose, as is undefeated Chris Waller-trained filly Autumn Glow.
“It’s going to be an intriguing race because Chris Waller’s filly comes into the mix there as well, so onwards and upwards to the Tea Rose,” Freedman said.
“If anything, her best performance so far has been at 1400 so I’m looking forward to getting her up to that trip next start.”