'Team Hulbert' has a throw at stumps for The Big Dance

By Glenn Davis

The father and son training partnership of Peter and Will Hulbert will have a throw at the stumps with Hail Manhattan in Sydney on Saturday in an attempt to qualify the gelding for next month’s $3 million The Big Dance at Randwick.

Co-trainer Will Hulbert was thumbing through the Sydney calendar for a suitable race for Hail Manhattan when he spotted the special conditions for the $160,000 Big Dance Wild Card over 1600 metres at Randwick.

Under the conditions, the Big Dance Wild Card is open to horses who had contested, but did not win, one of the previous Big Dance qualifying races.

Hail Manhattan meets the criteria after finishing third in the Coffs Harbour Cup, which was won by the Sara Ryan-trained Attractable in August.

“Will was looking for a race for Hail Manhattan and came across the Big Dance Wild Card in Sydney which is over 1600 metres,” Peter said. 

“It’s the perfect distance for him and he can qualify for The Big Dance if he wins or runs second.

“We had intended to run in the Murwillumbah Cup, which also was a qualifying race, but he drew the outside barrier so we decided to stay home and run in Brisbane with him last start.”

Peter has been training for more than 40 years but has only had two Sydney starters.

When training solo he took 10-time winner Black Jag south for the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Randwick in 2011.

But, the then three-year-old beat only two home behind Doctor Doom.

Black Jag finished a game fourth in the Listed Dulcify at Rosehill at his previous start before the Group 1 Champion Stakes. 

His only other starter was in partnership with son, Will, when Felix The Scat tailed off last on a bog track in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick in April.

Jockey Mark Du Plessis has been Hail Manhattan’s regular rider but Sydney apprentice Jett Stanley will ride the seven-year-old in the Big Dance Wild Card.

“Mark was already committed to riding in Brisbane but when we saw apprentices could claim, Will booked Jett Stanley,” Peter said.

“He’s a very promising young rider who had a three kilo claim but he’s already down to two kilos now.”

Hail Manhattan won the Listed Members' Cup at the Sunshine Coast over 1600 metres and the 2000 metre Mackay Cup two years ago before being sidelined for several months with a tendon injury.

“It’s been a long road back for him but he’s going well again now,” Peter said.

Since his Coffs Harbour placing, Hail Manhattan has started twice for a close fourth to Tidal Creek in the Doomben Mile on September 9 and a last start second to the Chris Waller-trained Shibli at Eagle Farm on September 30.