The 2024 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick saw a dramatic finish with Manaal, the sole remaining filly in the race, edging out the colts for a narrow victory.
Michael Freedman’s filly Manaal winning the 2024 Inglis Sires’ at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Following the late scratch of Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot due to the wet track conditions, Manaal shouldered the responsibility of taking on the boys in the prestigious Group 1 contest, the second leg of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival’s Triple Crown.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Manaal maintained her perfect record at Randwick with this win, her third victory at the track and her first since the Group 2 Sweet Embrace two races back.
Her Golden Slipper run at Rosehill was commendable.
Despite a challenging outside barrier (16), the Tassort filly displayed her talent by finishing a credible fifth at long odds (40/1) in that $5 million event.
Building upon that performance, Manaal thrived over the longer distance in the Sires’.
Jockey Jason Collett, a seasoned rider with seven Group 1 wins under his belt, delivered a masterful performance.
The heavily-backed favourite, Storm Boy, who finished a close third in the Golden Slipper, failed to redeem himself in the Sires’.
Despite running with cover for most of the race, he could only manage fourth place.
Anode took an early lead and remained at the front until the final stretch when Traffic Warden joined the fray.
James Cummings‘ Street Boss colt, Traffic Warden (fourth in the Slipper at a big price), surged ahead with 200 meters remaining, but Manaal and Coleman mounted a fierce challenge in the final stages.
In a thrilling photo finish, Manaal lunged forward at the very end, securing victory by a narrow margin over the determined Traffic Warden.
Matt Laurie‘s consistent Pierata colt, Coleman, made a late surge from the back of the pack to claim third place, replicating his Slipper performance when runner-up in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds.
This victory marks a significant feat for trainer Freedman, who meticulously prepared Manaal for the Sires’ throughout her entire campaign.
His strategy paid off, resulting in his sixth Group 1 win.
With her impressive performance, Manaal emerges as a potential contender for the upcoming Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 20th.
This race mirrors the path taken by Militarize in 2023, who captured both the Inglis Sires’ and Champagne Stakes for trainer Chris Waller.
Ladbrokes currently offers all-in odds of $7 for Manaal to repeat this feat.
2024 Inglis Sires’ Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | MANAAL | Michael Freedman | Jason Collett | 9 | 54.5kg | $5.50 | |||
| 2 | 3 | TRAFFIC WARDEN | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Kah | 0.07L | 3 | 56.5kg | $7.50 | ||
| 3 | 2 | COLEMAN | Matt Laurie | Damian Lane | 1.06L | 8 | 56.5kg | $8 | ||
| 4 | 1 | STORM BOY | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | James McDonald | 2.88L | 7 | 56.5kg | $2.05F | ||
| 5 | 4 | PROST | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Adam Hyeronimus | 3.47L | 5 | 56.5kg | $20 | ||
| 6 | 6 | FEARLESS | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tommy Berry | 3.54L | 4 | 56.5kg | $14 | ||
| 7 | 5 | ANODE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 4.18L | 1 | 56.5kg | $10 | ||
| 8 | 8 | DUVANA | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 5.77L | 6 | 56.5kg | $31 | ||
| 9 | 7 | VIANARRA | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ms Rachel King | 8.95L | 2 | 56.5kg | $151 | ||
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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