Joshua Manzelmann keen for another city opportunity

By Jordan Gerrans

After a luckless trip to Brisbane for the Battle of the Bush Final last year, Joshua Manzelmann and consistent galloper Such A Whit are about to head south again eager for a better result.

The Mackay-based trainer booked his position in the Country Cups Challenge Final later this year with victory at Bowen on Saturday afternoon.

The CCC heat doubled as the local Mango Cup, which Such A Whit claimed by just over a length.

When Manzelmann and his now seven-year-old won through to the BOTB decider last year, they also did so at Bowen’s Ben Bolt Park.

It was not a memorable trip south for Manzelmann in the BOTB Final of 2022 as his gelding was beaten just over eight lengths.

After qualifying for the CCC Final on Saturday, Manzelmann is keen to give Such A Whit one more run before the decider in Brisbane on December 2 for $200,000 over 1600 metres.

“I reckon these series’ are really good,” Manzelmann said.

“It gives these horses who are not metro grade the chance to go down to the city and compete in these races.”

Such A Whit relished the drop back to country grade on Saturday after not finishing better than fifth in his last four runs on TAB programs at Mackay and Townsville.

Now after 60 career starts for nine victories, Manzelmann thinks non-TAB racing is about Such A Whit’s level as a veteran seven-year-old.

“He has won quite a few races, which is good,” he said.

“But, I just do not think he is up to TAB level any more, I do not reckon.

“We just need to drop him back to the bush and he is right in those races, you see.

“I personally do not think he can carry the weight and if he has a light weight, he goes much better.”

Joshua is the cousin of fellow Central Queensland trainer John Manzelmann.

Joshua prepares a team of 14 gallopers as well as running a business selling horse feed on top of his training commitments.

Jockey Chelsea Jokic was in the saddle on Saturday and Such A Whit also enjoyed being dropped back to 1470 metres after racing over further in his last handful of starts.

“I was happy with his run,” Manzelmann said.

“I thought I would see how we would go if we dropped him back to country grade in the bush and back in distance, as well.

“He was strong on the line.”

Such A Whit is likely to have one more run before descending on Brisbane for the CCC Final, with Manzelmann suggesting that is likely to be on Melbourne Cup day on his home track of Mackay.

Joshua’s cousin John also won a heat of the series on Saturday, as well.

John Manzelmann’s Motamayiz got the cash at Emerald but is not eligible for the Final.

In other qualifying races over the last week, Denise Ballard’s Vigorous Flow won the Cloncurry Cup on Friday, which gives the team entry into the CCC Final. 

Speaking post-race on Friday afternoon at Cloncurry, Denise said she would not commit to heading to Brisbane for the big dance with the bay gelding.

Also at Cloncurry on Friday, the Country Stampede qualifier went to the Tanya Parry-trained Wicked Wiki. 

Wicked Wiki can now progress to the $105,000 Country Stampede Final at Doomben in December.

In the Far North of the state, Michael Lee’s Ruby July won the Country Stampede qualifier.

Lee noted prior to the race that the Country Stampede Final in Brisbane in December was not in his plans, even if Ruby July was to win the event.

This coming weekend Stampede and Country Cups heats will be run at Innisfail, Stanthorpe, Wondai and Blackall.