Lachie Manzelmann becomes latest rising star

By Glenn Davis

Mackay’s Lachie Manzelmann has been training for around two years in the thoroughbred industry, but he’s already shown he has a bright future.

The son of well-known trainer John Manzelmann, Lachie trained his 20th winner when Love On Display broke through for her maiden win at Mackay last Thursday.

It broke a mini-run of outs for Lachie after Outback Action gave him his biggest win since he switched codes from the harness industry by taking out the Mackay Newmarket last month.

Lachie sent Outback Action to Cairns for its Newmarket Handicap on August 17 before returning home after the six-year-old finished seventh to the Jamie McConachy-trained Montenegro Man.

Outback Action is now set to clash with stable mate Chickerartie in the Open Handicap at Rockhampton on Thursday and Lachie expects both to be highly competitive.

“I think Outback Action is a great chance and I’ve got Justin Huxtable riding him,” Lachie said.

“Justin would win on a broomstick the way he’s been riding.”

Chickerartie – a Jackson Murphy mount – has been placed at her past two starts including her latest effort when third to Media Empire in a 1200 metre Benchmark race at Mackay on August 10.

“Chickerartie is on the minimum and she’s got heaps of speed,” Lachie said.

“I really like her as well and she’ll give it a shake if she can land in a good spot.

“She got boxed in last start and couldn’t muster enough speed by the time she got out.

“Outback Action is the class horse of the two, but I’d like to quinella the race as Chickerartie tries her heart out and runs through the line like a tiger.”

The 24-year-old Lachie has 10 horses in work in Mackay where he has based himself for the past 12 months.

He moved to Brisbane with his mother when he was 14 and lived briefly near Ipswich before buying a home near Redcliffe when he was only 18 prior to moving to Logan Village where he started his harness training career.

“I won the Newcastle Mile which was a Group 1 race before I decided to start training thoroughbreds,” Lachie said.

“Training thoroughbreds is a much easier lifestyle for me than harness racing as I’d never get home before midnight when I was driving.”