John Manzelmann eyes century of winners and Townsville Cup success to round out season

MACKAY trainer John Manzelmann has his sights set on topping the century of winners in the dying days of the season, where his hopes include stable newcomer Artibai in Saturday’s Townsville Cup.

John Mazelmann hopes to snare another cup success at Townsville on Saturday. Picture: Stewart McLean

PROLIFIC Mackay trainer John Manzelmann has his sights set on topping the century of winners in the dying days of the season, where his hopes include stable newcomer Artibai in Saturday’s $100,000 Townsville Cup.

Manzelmann was Queensland’s leading trainer by winners (106.5) last season, but Tony Gollan looks like reversing the result this year, holding a 5.5 win advantage going into the final four days of the racing year.

With that title seemingly gone, Manzelmann is desperate to again achieve triple figures, needing another two wins over the next few days to satisfy that ambition.

He has a number of chances at Townsville on Thursday and on Saturday that could bring up the century, plus a few runners at Middlemount over the weekend.

“Last year was the first time I’ve done it with the gallopers — I did it a few times when I was in harness racing — and I would really like to do it again,” he said.

“We’ve won a bit more money this season, but the strike rate is down a bit (because) I’ve had to prop up a few fields which cuts into the percentage a bit.”

Manzelmann purchased Artibai off Australian Bloodstock for himself and clients before his last-start defeat at Eagle Farm, with a view to the trainer winning another Townsville Cup, a race he has won previously with Flying Test, Pay Teevee and More More More.

“It would be nice to win another one and if Artibai can find his right form, he’s a definite chance,” Manzelmann said. “Damian (Browne) said he travelled really well until he let his head go and he just floundered under the big weight on that track. Before that he ran well in a strong form race at Ipswich.

“Kris (Lees) brought him up for that Eagle Farm race and he came to me after that. It’s like he’s been here a million years. He’s settled in beautifully.”

Jeff Lloyd all but sealed the jockeys’ premiership with a double at Doomben on Wednesday. The evertan hoop has a 5.5 win lead over Jim Byrne. Picture: Darren England

Manzelmann, who will drive to Townsville on Thursday, returns home to work horses on Friday and then head back north for the Cup on Saturday, rates Bossy Beach and Shady Daisy his best hopes at Townsville on Thursday.

The stable will welcome nine rising two-year-olds next season, but Manzelmann said the bulk of his winners are from horses he inherits from other trainers.

“Most of mine are tried horses. I seem to do better with them,” he said. “Being able to work them on the beach is a big help with a lot of those older horses.”

# Jeff Lloyd edged another win clear to virtually seal the metropolitan jockeys’ title with a double at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. With Jim Byrne striking just once, Lloyd heads into Saturday’s Doomben finale with a 5.5 win buffer as he prepares to cap a fairytale comeback.

Originally published as John Manzelmann eyes century of winners and Townsville Cup success to round out season