Connections of Manawanui have once again declined a large offer to buy their prized three-year-old.

Despite not being a stallion prospect, the offers keep rolling in from people who are willing to lay down massive amounts of money to purchase the gelding.

Trainer Ron Leemon said the latest bid came in at well over $2 million.

Leemon said the owners did not think twice about this latest offer, instead opting to hold on to the Oratorio gelding for the entirety of his racing career.

“I don’t think we will ever sell him – we are having too much fun,” Leemon said.

“Manawanui is the type of horse every trainer and owner dreams of racing.

“Good horses like Manawanui are not easy to find.”

Manawanui shot to fame after winning the $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill in September.

The win came after his owners had forked out the $50,000 late acceptance fee to allow the horse to run in the race.

Manawanui, who was purchased for just $45,000 from the 2010 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, went on to beat hot favourite Smart Missile in the Group 1 race.

From just nine starts, Manawanui has posted six wins and has earned more than $1.2 million in prize money.

The gelding is being aimed at the Cox Plate next spring, after his trainer decided not to send him to the $3 million race this year.

Manawanui instead lined up in the $1.5 million Victoria Derby, where he finished sixth of 16 runners.

He will remain untapped during the autumn before returning for a big 2012 spring campaign.

“We won’t be extending him beyond 1600m in the autumn,” Leemon said.

“I only want to give Manawanui a light autumn, five runs at the most, then spell him and get ready for the Cox Plate in the spring.”