Peter Moody knows it would be rare to find another import capable of doing what Manighar did in 2012, but he is giving Spanish Mission his chance.
The Melbourne Cup placegetter resumes in Saturday’s $200,000 Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield.
That is the race Manighar won at his first start for Moody before going on to win the Australian Cup (2000m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Tancred Stakes (2400m), all at Group 1 level.
Moody took charge of Spanish Mission after his Melbourne Cup third placing and while he flopped as a $1.40 favourite in the Zipping Classic (2400m), what he has shown since suggests to Moody he can run well in the shortest race of his career.
“It’s well short of his best but he’s got a better turn of foot than Manighar and Manighar won this race,” Moody said.
“Now I’m not saying he’s going to go bang, bang, bang like Manighar did, but I can only just go off what I’m seeing at home and he’s shown that we should have a throw at the stumps and see if he can be competitive at this trip.
“If not, we can just train him for mile-and-a-half races.”
Spanish Mission ran over 1609m at his first and third starts but hasn’t raced below 2253m since.
The Zipping Classic was his first start at 2400m since winning the Derby Invitation at Belmont in America 13 starts earlier. Other wins include the Group 2 Doncaster Cup over 3600m, while he ran third in last year’s 4014m Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
An $8 chance with TAB for Saturday’s first-up assignment, in which he will be ridden by Luke Nolen, Spanish Mission is on the $9 second line in Australian Cup betting and is $11 co-favourite for the Sydney Cup (3200m).