Menari Stars at Warwick Farm

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday May 1
Putting the sparkle into a midweek meeting at Warwick Farm on Wednesday was super talented sprinter Menari, who is endeavouring to rekindle his racing career following an unsuccessful season at stud last spring.

Menari is on the comeback trail The son of Snitzel headed off to stud at Newgate Farm after suffering a suspensory issue, but fertility problems resulted in his stud career being halted and he was put back into work earlier this year.

Menari is building towards the possibility of one run this preparation, in the Listed At Sea Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on May 25 providing it's a "dry track" and is expected to trial again on May 13.

The four-year-old galloped over 800m today, running his last 600m in 35.66 seconds.

"He was terrific," Innes Jr said. "I reckon he's come back as good as we could have expected and hoped.

"He's ticked all the boxes at home. We brought him here today to get him out of the stable environment on a raceday and he was terrific. He floated around.

"He had his ears pricked and to him that was just a bit of a warm up.

"It was absolutely beautiful.

Innes said James McDonald rode Menari in a jumpout at Rosehill last week and the horse won the competition in a breeze.

"We were struggling to keep up with him and when James gave him a squeeze, he pulled away with ease," he said.

"I definitely don't think his racing days are over."

Menari covered 64 mares, but got just 18 in foal so you can see why a tilt at the 2019 Everest holds plenty of appeal.

A big horse with tremendous natural talent, Menari might be just about ready to deliver on the Group I promise he has always shown.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Future Looks Bright for Excess
Corumbene Stud's George Altomonte was impressed enough by Julius Sandhu's handing of Group II MRC Rubiton Stakes winner Lofty Strike to entrust the Cranbourne-based trainer with the full-sister Excess and was rewarded with a debut win at Cranbourne on Thursday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
$2.2 Million Daughter of Snitzel Sets a New Mark for a Filly
Snitzel hit another home run when Arrowfield Stud’s filly from the Group 1 Willian Reid Stakes winner Silent Sedition set a new benchmark for a filly when knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $2,200,000.
Snitzel's Away Game Sizzles to Massive Payday in MM Classic
Luke Currie won a second The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in three years when emerging filly Away Game stunned her rivals in Saturday’s $2 million contest at the Gold Coast.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.