Manhattan Justice’s timely win ahead of Gold Coast sale

MANHATTAN Justice shone in front of potential buyers by winning a maiden race just days before he is due to be sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Spring Racehorse Sale this week.

Jockey Brooke Ainsworth rides the Gary Moore-trained Manhattan Justice to victory at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photo: Jessica Hawkins/Trackside Photography.

MANHATTAN Justice shone in front of potential buyers by winning a maiden race just days before he is due to be sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Spring Racehorse Sale this week.

Jockey Brooke Ainsworth rode the Gary Moore-trained three-year-old gelding to victory in the Maiden Handicap (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Owner Robert Ng, a Singapore racing identity whose Lucky Racing Syndicate’s Diba­yani finished second in the $1 million Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 1, will sell Manhattan Justice after deciding he wasn’t up to stakes class or winning in Singapore or Hong Kong.

But Sydney-based trainer Moore said he was capable of winning in Brisbane.

“He’s a nice acquisition for somebody and it’s been a great result for the owner,” he said.

“He is going to be very popular now with the way he won (on Saturday) and I look forward to the horse having a lot of success for the person that acquires him. They are going to have a lot of fun.

“He is probably more of a horse that could win at Doomben in his next start. I don’t know if he can win on a Saturday but I think he would be very competitive probably on a Wednesday.”

Moore couldn’t contain his excitement when Manhattan Justice came across the line and said he enjoyed any chance to visit Queensland.

“I enjoy coming to Queensland. My dad was a Queenslander, it’s great racing and the people are very kind,” said Moore, a son of legendary jockey George Moore.

Moore said he could be back on the Gold Coast in January to chase the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

“The two-year-olds that we bought at Magic Millions sales throughout Australia are starting to crank up now and I’m hoping to have a runner in the two-year-old race in January,” Moore said.