We reported yesterday that Glyn Schofield was facing a massive problem in the coming weeks where he’d be forced to choose between Manawanui for Ron Leemon or Hay List for John McNair.

Both were scheduled to start on February 18 but one would be in Sydney and the other down in Melbourne.

We said the only way out for Schofield would be if Manawanui ran a week earlier and now it seems Leemon is looking at the Expressway Stakes as a very real consideration.

“We had a chat after track work yesterday in regards to a possible alternative and that was to put him into the Expressway Stakes and give him a three week break,” he said.

“I’ll nominate for the Expressway and asses the field and see if I go that way and avoid a little bit of conflict.”

It would give Manawanui only a week and a half to be fit to race but Leemon says that’d probably be enough time.

“He’s a horse you only need to give two or three gallops to him and you can be pretty much spot on,” he said.

“Yesterday was a pretty hard gallop but he took no harm from it…he looked a little bit more trim this morning.”

The Expressway Stakes would be the tougher first up challenge for Manawanui, not only would he get a week less but also face a crack field including a triple threat from Chris Waller.

“Horses have got to start somewhere and unfortunately the Sydney carnival they sort of lead you in…all the open class horses along the one path,” he said.

If Manawanui starts in the Expressway it’d be three weeks into the Hobartville at his next assignment.

“That’s how I was brought up, they have a hard run first up, three weeks is a nice easy way to get over the run,” he said.

No decision will be finalised for Manawanui until after he has his next gallop on Tuesday and fields come out.

“I’ll look at what’s in the Expressway and how he barrier trials,” he said.