Hail Manhattan ready to rumble

By Glenn Davis

Co-trainer Peter Hulbert has declared Mooloolaba Cup winner Hail Manhattan is “ready to rumble” when he makes his comeback from injury at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Hail Manhattan suffered a tendon injury after a record-breaking win in the Mooloolaba Cup over 1600 metres at the Sunshine Coast in November last year.

The rising seven-year-old has had two barrier trials and a jump-out to prepare for his return in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres and Peter expects a strong performance first-up.

“We’re not sure when he was injured but we sent him for a scan which found there was a slight tendon strain but it wasn’t serious,” Peter said.

Peter trains in partnership with his son Will.

“His leg blew up after his record-breaking win in the Mooloolaba Cup so after we got the scans done, we sent him up to Trevor Lambourn’s property for rehabilitation," Peter said. 

“Trevor started on him straight away and the tipped him out for a month.”

Peter said Hail Manhattan would step up gradually in distance this campaign but has ruled out sending him north for the North Queensland winter carnival.

“The carnival up north has come around too soon for him this year and we’ll just try to win a race around here for the time being,” he said.

“Will has been riding him work and he reckons he’s right to go.”

He won the Listed Tattersall’s Member’s Cup at the Sunshine Coast in February of 2021 before embarking on a country Cups campaign after contesting the Listed Lightning Handicap and Group 3 Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm that year.

In his first away trip, Hail Manhattan finished second in the Rockhampton Cup behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained Regal Stage before claiming the Mackay Cup.

He then ran in the Townsville Cup over 2000 metres but could only manage fifth, beaten just over two lengths by Fortification.

“We sent him north that year for a Cups campaign but fancy running into one from the Gai Waterhouse stable in the Rocky Cup,” Peter said.

“He then won the Mackay Cup but he had enough by the time he ran in the Townsville Cup.”

The son of Manhattan Rain was a paltry $6,000 buy but has now earned connections more than $488,000 in prize money with eight wins and 10 placings from 36 starts.

Peter rates the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Blaze A Trail as the main threat to a successful return for Hail Manhattan.

Blaze A Trial lived up to his placing in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich in June with a last start win in a 1350 metre Class 6 at Doomben on July 8.

“Blazing Trial looks the one to beat but he had a tough run last start which might have gassed him a bit,” Peter said.