Serenely Discreet stormed home late to take out the 2016 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington this afternoon and she could back-up in the Thousand Guineas next weekend.
Serenely Discreet finished over the top of her rivals to take out the Edward Manifold Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Serenely Discreet had no luck whatsoever last start at Caulfield, but there was no repeat of that this afternoon and she absolutely relished the clear running late to storm over the top of her rivals to record a most impressive victory.
Jockey Luke Nolen was delighted to have the chance to atone on Serenely Discreet following her luckless run last start and is confident that the daughter of Exceed And Excel heading towards races like the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m).
“I just had to find a bit of cover in this win and she ran it right out,” Nolen said.
“I was pretty confident and when I gave her a stoke up she really lengthened nicely.
“She probably got complacent when she got to the front, but she is heading towards the Thousand Guineas and maybe on to the Oaks after that.”
Trainer Phillip Stokes was always confident that Flemington would be the ideal track for Serenely Discreet and he was pleased to see her live up to that billing in the Edward Manifold Stakes.
Stokes said that he will wait until he sees how Serenely Discreet pulls up before he decides whether to run her in the Thousand Guineas, but he revealed that the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) was the long-term goal for the Edward Manifold Stakes winner.
“I always thought that she would be better when she got to Flemington on the bigger track and the barrier panned out well today as she got to the outside and put them away,” Stokes said.
“We gave her a jump out on Tuesday just to sharpen her up for this.
“She is in the Thousand Guineas noms and we will see how she goes during the week.
“If she doesn’t back-up we will look at an Oaks path and we will let the horse do the talking.”
There were a host of hard-luck stories in the Edward Manifold Stakes and it was outsiders Bella Sorellastra and Waterloo Sunset that were able to fill out the trifecta at big odds.
