Racing
Manaal wins the Sheraco Stakes: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Manaal claims the Group 3 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Manaal (M Freedman/J Collett) - $112nd: Dark Glitter (M Van Gestel/M Bourke) - $51
3rd: Gangsta Granny (M, J & W Hawkes/T Schiller) - $1.80F
Winning Time: 1:10.40 Last 600m: 33.93
Margins: ½L x 1¼L
Winning Trainer: Michael FreedmanManaal flies down the outside to win the Sheraco Stakes! @MFreedmanRacing pic.twitter.com/rCdzH47ZcG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 13, 2025
On Manaal: "She is a great mare. It's been a little while between drinks for her. I was just saying before last preparation she had wretched luck with barriers. We drew off the track I don't know how many times. She was running well without much luck. Seemed to come back in good order this preparation."
On the last outing: "When we skipped the race on the heavy track the other day at Randwick and went to Caulfield, she didn't really like Caulfield much. Damian Lane rang me that night and said I wouldn't be too hard on her. I was always a little bit concerned about carrying the 58kg against a couple of good mares today. She is a terrific mare. She won a Gimcrack at 2[yo] in the Spring and was a bit unlucky in the Slipper."
On the future: "There are lots of good options for 4yo mares in the Spring. You have The Invitation, being a 4yo the Golden Eagle wouldn't be out of the equation. I think we just pick our way a little bit from here. I'm just really heartened by the fact I can see she is back in good form."
Winning Jockey: Jason Collett
On the win: "It was great, I loved that. Obviously (she was) really disappointing in Melbourne. We weren't 100% sure why but to come back and the feel she gave me then, that was great."
On her development: "We say it all the time when they have a break and come back, 'oh they've gotten bigger', this and that. But she has actually. She's sort of filling out more. She was a great two-year-old, but she's starting to mature now into a really nice mare and that was great today."
On having his family trackside: "I'm really grateful. Mum and dad are here and the little ones are basking in the limelight. It's great."
