News

Blueblood Juveniles Take Spotlight

29th Jan 2009

Racing and Sports - Friday, 30 January 2009

While the Lightning Stakes holds centre attention tomorrow, promising youngsters Come Hither and Manhattan Rain will also command a huge amount of attention.

Redoute's Choice filly Come Hither announced herself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender when romping home in the Listed Debutants Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield last October.

The Sheikh Mohammed owned filly had previously run an encouraging third on debut at Randwick, but took a big step forward at her next outing.

A $1.1million purchase for Darley from the Bellerive draft at last year's Easter Sale, Come Hither is out to give the Easy Date family a second Golden Slipper in three years.

Trained by Lee Freedman, Come Hither is from the G2 placed Anabaa mare Hanky Panky, a grand daughter of Easy Date via her stakes placed daughter Singles Bar, who also produced the star juvenile Not A Single Doubt.

Easy Date first dabbled with the Golden Slipper when Snippets ran fifth in 1987. Two decades on, she finally etched her name in the record books when third generation descendants Forensics and Zizou ran the quinella.

Come Hither resumes in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington and has been marked an odds-on favourite in early markets.

In Sydney, Manhattan Rain debuts in a non-stakes race, but trainer Gai Waterhouse is already talking up Golden Slipper prospects for the colt.

He is by Encosta De Lago from the Canny Lad mare Shantha's Choice, making him a half-brother to Redoute's Choice.

Manhattan Rain scored a win over Real Saga in a barrier trial earlier this month, underlining his potential.

A full-brother to Manhattan Rain was expected to be the star yearling of 2009, but he has been withdrawn from the Easter sale and will race for Muzaffer Yaseen – like all other progeny from Shantha's Choice.