The Overpass form is as good as it gets in Western Australia so it was no surprise to see tough Manhattan Rain gelding Man Crush score his second stakes win in the Listed Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.
At his previous run on November 30, Man Crush had finished a four length eighth to Overpass in the Group I Winterbottom Stakes and his trainer Luke Fernie was always confident that form line would hold up.
After drawing the inside barrier, Chris Parnham found himself facing the type of speed duel with Oxbridge where there’d be no winners so bailed on that idea to take the sit, and when presented in the straight finished too strongly to defeat Premium Choice (I'm All The Talk) by a length with Twain's Angel (Toronado) third.
The win takes his record to seven wins, seven seconds, and a third from 35 starts with earnings of $772,227.
“He’s been a star since the moment we brought him to the races really,” said Fernie.
&ldq
uo;He’s a level above these horses today.
“In the WInterbottom I thought his run as really good. Four lengths behind Overpass and he bumps into a field like this today. I was pretty confident he’d take care of them.”
“He’s pretty tough. He’s shown that trait through his career,” said Parnham.
“When he gets into a dogfight he generally comes out on top.
Man Crush was a $45,000 purchase for Peter Fernie from the Misty Valley Thoroughbreds At Greenfields Lodge draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, and at three went to Pinjarra to win the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (RL), his first at stakes level.
He’s the first foal of All Too Hard mare Crushed, who went to stud having been placed, and is a daughter of Group I NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Juice.
Crushed has a yearling full brother set to be offered at this year’s Magic Millions Perth as Lot 23.
She foaled a full sister to Man Crush last season and was sent to Ingratiating.
Man Crush is one of 18 stakes winners for Manhattan Rain who stands at Western Australia’s Geisel Park Stud.
