Winner of the Listed Nudgee Stakes at Doomben last December, Godolphin's Exceed And Excel mare Manicure owned group placings in the PJ Bell Stakes, James Carr Stakes, Triscay Stakes, Guy Walter Stakes and Hawkesbury Crown as well as a second in the million dollar Magic Millions Fillies And Mares, so few could begrudge her win in Saturday's Group III How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Sydney-based jockey Rachel King was having her first ride on the track and it was smooth sailing all the way.
Keeping a good hold on the 5yo mare as she eased three-wide at the top of the straight, King received an instant response when she asked for an effort.
Manicure defeated Angelic Ruler (Universal Ruler) by one and a half-lengths with Dawn Dawn (All Too Hard) was another three quarters of a length back in third. (images Grant Courtney ).
The daughter
of Exceed And Excel advances her record to 4 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds from
13 starts with earnings of $581,525.
"She definitely made my job a lot easier, being my first time around here," King said.
"We just got into a really good spot, I had a bit of cover from the wind and she was too good for them at the end.
"She was super strong today and felt enormous from the minute I got on her.
"It was her first time around here as well but she's very versatile and very straightforward. You can put her where you like and she makes my job easy."
Manicure is out of Lonhro's top-class daughter Trim, winner of the Group III STC Research Stakes and Listed VRC Red Roses Stakes.
Trim is a sister to Stubborn who is the dam of the West Australian warrior Gatting (Hard Spun) the upset winner of last week's Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes.
After missing in 2014 and 2015, Trim has a 2yo colt by Teofilo named Tassel. She slipped to Brazen Beau in 2017 and to Territories (IRE) last year.
