Michael Freedman is confident his stable star Manaal can continue her outstanding spring form when she tackles the Group 2 The Invitation (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The high-class mare, who claimed the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old, has already picked up Group 2 wins in both the Sheraco Stakes and Golden Pendant this preparation, taking her career prize money to nearly $2 million.
Freedman said the set weights and penalties conditions — which see Manaal carry 59kg — are ideal given her proven class and consistency. “She’s great and she’ll line up in The Invitation,” Freedman said. “It’s a good race for her and she’s in the right form to run well.”
Already having beaten several of Saturday’s rivals, including Gerringong, Firestorm and Gangsta Granny, the mare looks primed to strike again. Freedman also suggested The Invitation could serve as a stepping stone to the Golden Eagle (1500m) a week later.
“She’s probably a little untried at the mile, but I think the 1500 metres will suit,” he said. “She ran a great race in the Coolmore Classic earlier in the year, and the only time she went further was in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old on a bog track.”
Manaal currently tops the market for The Invitation at $4, ahead of Miss Roumbini and Stefi Magnetica, and sits at $21 for the Golden Eagle — where she could face off against Autumn Glow, the unbeaten mare who leads the betting.