Manhattan Rain's Runaway Claims Geelong Cup

Mark Smith - Wednesday October 24

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott turned back the international challenge in Wednesday's $350,000 Group III Bet365 Geelong Cup (2400m) as the front-running Runaway held the challenge of his stablemate Northwest Passage.

Carrying the colours of Anthony Mithen's Rosemont Stud, Runaway won the Listed VRC St Leger back in April before finishing third in the Group 1 S.A. Derby. Taking up his favoured front-running role under Stephen Baster, the son of Manhattan Rain fought bravely down the straight to defeat the 5yo So You Think gelding Northwest Passage by three-quarters of a length with Juddmonte Farms Frankel entire Finche (GB) the same distance back in third.

Runaway advances his record to 4 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $520,285.


"I've ridden this horse a fair bit and the owners have been great to me, it's their hometown cup so it's a dream come true for everybody," Baster said.

"He showed he was a good horse in the St Leger, I thought he was a good chance as long as he was not annoyed too much in front. He's only third up so it was an amazing training effort."

Connections will be hoping the handicapper was impressed enough by the effort to give him Runaway a penalty in the Melbourne Cup as he is well down in the order of entries.

Purchased by Gai Waterhouse Racing / J Blaxland for $150,000 out of the Rosemont Stud draft the 2016 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Runaway is a half-brother to the 2011 Group 1 AJC Australian Oaks winner Absolutely and the 2016 Group 1 SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Abbey Marie.

He is the seventh winner from as many foals out of the Catrail mare Catshaan who Rosemont Stud purchased for $160,000 at the Teeeley Assets dispersal in 2014 when she was carrying the St Leger winner.

Her 3yo Redoute's Choice colt named Zaahed was purchased by Shadwell Stud Australasia for $550,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and was exported to South Africa.

A half-sister to the Champion Sprinter/Miler in Japan in 2010, Kinshasa No Kiseki, Catshaan has a 2yo filly by Zoustar and a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock.

She missed to Redoute's Choice last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Add Manhattan Rain to Make Money
Nine years ago, a filly by Charge Forward out of the Marscay mare Our Farm Girl, sold for $25,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Spring Plans for Runaway
As a three-quarter brother to a pair of Oaks winners, it’s no surprise the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes is on the agenda for promising three year-old Runaway, who broke the ice with his first win at Canterbury on Wednesday.