Menari announces arrival with Randwick win
Menari may not have the profile of trainer Gerald Ryan’s Magic Millions Classic hope Chauffeur, but an eye-catching debut has announced his potential as another of the stable’s exciting two-year-old colts.
While Chauffeur, last year’s $1.6 million sale-topper, is on the Gold Coast with Ryan for the $2 million 2YO Classic, Menari was making waves in Sydney.
The imposing colt with a striking baldy face easily accounted for his four rivals in Saturday’s two-year-old race at Randwick over 1100m, putting a 1-3/4 length margin on Taking Aim ($7.50).
Momentum To Win ($41) and Newburgh ($7.50) dead-heated for third.
Menari took the lead in a dominant trial win at Rosehill on December 30, but missed the start at Randwick after being sent out the $1.85 favourite.
“He switched off lovely in behind them today,” Menari’s apprentice jockey James Innes said.
“They ran along a bit but if he goes out over a bit of ground and relaxes like he did then it won’t be a problem for him.”
Innes, who is indentured to Ryan, said the stable had a high opinion of the colt who is by Snitzel and out of stakes-winning mare Isurava.
“He’s going to go on to bigger and better things for sure,” Innes said.