Joshua Manzelmann fortified in his training methods

By Jordan Gerrans

Mackay horseman Joshua Manzelmann believes the decision to back-in his own unique training methods helped deliver his growing stable a career-best season.

From the famous Manzelmann racing clan in Central Queensland, Joshua posted a high mark of 20 winners in the 2023-24 campaign.

That bested his previous highest victory tally for a season of 11 comfortably.

And, with his barn in the most prolific form since he took out his license, Joshua feels the time is right to strike in his hometown Cup this Saturday with $150,000 on the line in the staying contest.

The 25-year-old presents with the in-form Fortified and Such A Whit. 

Such A Whit was the first emergency when acceptances were released earlier this week but the veteran stayer has snuck into the field following scratchings. 

Joshua is now in his eighth season with a trainer’s license and thinks his choice to change things up with his training practices has been key to his results.

He is a regular at the beach in the Sugar City and will even chase cows around his property with his gallopers, which he says they enjoy the challenge of doing.

“All the horses are going well and I am happy with how I am training,” Joshua said.

“I am doing things a bit differently and I think hopefully there is no going backwards this season and we can just keep going forwards.

“I have changed what I do with them – I have my own track at my place, a swim up the front and the beach is only one kilometre away.

“I have been doing a lot of beach work, I have made a little track through the dunes on to the beach.

“The horses seem to be a lot happier doing that work and hopefully they can just keep rolling along.”

Joshua will take his team into the Ooralea track when required but will do the majority of his work with his team at his own property.

The surname Manzelmann is synonymous with racing in the region.

John has been a leading trainer in the city for decades.

Joshua’s father is John’s cousin.

They are not the only Manzelmann’s involved in the sport in the city.

John’s son Lachie recently won the Mackay Newmarket with Outback Action, which is one of the biggest wins in his training career so far.

Lachie was previously a harness trainer and driver and is now more so focusing his attention on the gallopers.

Fellow trainers Jennifer Hatfield and Tracy Simmons are also relations of the Manzelmann clan.

All five are set to have starters on Cup day.

“The Manzelmanns have long been associated with racing in Mackay, not just the gallops but also the harness racing when it was here,” Mackay Turf Club president John Philps said.

“There has been a number of trainers and winners from the family.”

John is the reigning Mackay Cup champion after winning the prize last year with rank outsider Savvy Legend.

John and Joshua will both have Cup runners again this year.

Joshua’s Fortified looms as the young trainer’s best hope yet of winning his hometown feature event.

Fortified – a seven-year-old gelding – ran a big race last Saturday to fill the second place position in the Townsville Cup behind winner Warp Speed.

From a wide alley, Fortified was well back in the field with 400 metres to travel but made significant ground to finish a touch over a length behind the Mark Goodwin-prepared stayer.

Apprentice Zac Sprie replaces Lacey Morrison for Saturday’s Mackay Cup aboard Fortified. 

Fortified has again drawn wide for the 2000 metre contest but so has Warp Speed, who again looms as a danger.

“Fortified was my standout runner from Saturday, he came from a long way back in the Cup,” Joshua said.

“He flew home, which is very good coming into this weekend.

“I have a lot more confidence in Fortified going into this weekend. I think he has a very good chance after running second in the Townsville Cup.”

Joshua will tinker with some gear with Such A Whit. 

With $150,000 on the line for his local feature race, Joshua says it is hard not to get anxious when he has a live chance such as Fortified which would give him a chance to write his name into Mackay racing folklore.

“There is a lot of nerves from me, I always get really nervous about it,” Joshua said.

“Hopefully they are good nerves and hopefully we can go all right.

“It would mean a lot to win the Mackay Cup as my family have been in racing for a long time.

“To be able to do it while training myself and doing my own thing, it would be really good to win the Mackay Cup as it is my hometown.”

As well as his Cup runners, Joshua also has high hopes for Kahaylaan, who is accepted for two races, on Saturday.

Following Saturday’s Mackay meeting, the 2024 Northern Winter Carnival heads north for feature race days hosted by Cairns and the FNQ Amateurs.