Team Corstens have Tried And Tired and General Groove in the 2016 Chester Manifold Stakes field and co-trainer Leon Corstens is hopeful that both horses can quinella the Listed event at Flemington on Saturday.
Tried And Tired has the chance to return to winning form in the 2016 Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington this weekend. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Tried And Tired returned to the races with a third place finish behind Wild Rain in the Listed City Of Greater Dandenong Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on December 5 and he was far from disgraced when fourth in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
Corstens told Racing Ahead that Tried And Tired may not have handled the Flemington straight in the Standish Handicap and he is confident that the Niello gelding will produce an improved performance in the 2016 Chester Manifold Stakes.
“I am really pleased with him,” Corstens said.
“He has come along in leaps and bounds since his last run and I am sure he will be much fitter for this particular race.
“The first time the straight the other day, I don’t know whether he handled it and I reckon he was in the first part of the track anyway.
“I would be very, very disappointed if he didn’t run in the first three.”
General Groove returned to the races with a fourth place finish in the Hill Handicap (1200m) at Moonee Valley on November 28 and she he was not far away when fifth behind Tuscan Sling in the Listed Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
Corstens believes that General Groove will now be at close to peak fitness for the Chester Manifold Stakes and he is hopeful that the General Nediym gelding can record his first race win since he took out the Lavazza Short Black Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day in 2014.
“I thought going into the Christmas Stakes that he might need the run, so he should be all the better for it,” Corstens said.
“He is going great guns.
“I am hoping that it will be a bob of the head between the two.”
Godolphin-owned Sarajevo is currently available at 2016 Chester Manifold Stakes odds of $3.70 and he is on top of the betting market with Ladbrokes from Kylie Vella-trained Zupacharged ($4). the early market mover Tried And Tired ($5), the talented Dances On Stars ($6.50), Peter Moody-trained Noela’s Choice ($6.50) and General Groove ($10).
